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MEMOIRS 



REV. MESSRS. MUNSON AND LYMAN. 



MEMOIRS 



REV. SAMUEL MUNSON, 



AND THE 



REV. HENRY LYMAN, 

LATE MISSIONARIES 

TO THE 

INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO, 

WITH THE JOURNAL OF THEIR EXPLORING TOUR. 

BY REV. WM. THOMPSON. 



" We are more than conquerors." f^- '^rTOF 



NEW- YORK: 
D. APPLETON & CO., 200, BROADWAY. 




MDCCC XXXIX. 



if. 



H. LUDWIG, PRINTER,! 

j 72,Vesey-st.,N.Y. j 



PREFACE. 



The eyes of Christian nations are 
turned with keen interest towards South- 
eastern Asia. 

Having established a mission in 
Siam, the A. B. C. F. M. directed their 
attention to the neighbouring islands. 
Reports from that quarter appeared to 
warrant an effort to ascertain whether 



VI PREFACE. 

the Gospel might not be speedily preach- 
ed throughout the Indian Archipelago. 

With this design Messrs. Munson 
and Lyman were sent forth on a tour 
of observation and inquiry. 

Some time after their tragical death 
it was concluded by a number of in- 
telligent and judicious friends of the 
cause in which they fell, that a me- 
morial of the deceased ought to be pre- 
pared for the public. 

In accordance with their judgment 
and wishes, the present volume has 
been drawn up. Had the times been 
auspicious it would have appeared at a 
much earlier period. 

Up to the time of their embarka- 
tion at Boston, the memoirs of Messrs. 



PREFACE. Vll 

Munson and Lyman are kept distinct. 
After that time they are blended, except 
that extracts are distinguished by the 
initials M. and L. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Early life of Samuel Munson — His conversion— His charac- 

acter in college 13 

CHAPTER II. 

His professional studies at Andover — Attendance on Medical 
Lectures in Boston and Brunswick — Connection with 
the Missionary Society of Barnstable County — Marriage 23 

CHAPTER III. 

Early Life of Henry Lyman — His Character on entering 
College — Conversion — Consequent Improvement in 
Scholarship — Interest in Missions 34 

CHAPTER IV. 

His professional studies at Andover — Attendance on Medical 
Lectures in Boston and Brunswick — Marriage — Re- 
ceives the Instructions of the Board 57 

CHAPTER V. 

Voyage of the Brethren — Residence in Batavia — Employ- 
ments — Obtain leave of the Government to pursue their 
Exploring Tour 64 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Journal of Messrs. Munson and Lyman on their Tour of 
Observation and Inquiry among the Islands lying west 
of Sumatra 87 

CHAPTER VII. 

The violent Death of Messrs. Munson and Lyman, in at- 
tempting to explore the Batta Country ...... 179 



MEMOIRS 



MEMOIR 



CHAPTER I. 

Early life of Samuel Munson — His conversion — His character 
in college. 

Samuel, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Mun- 
son, was born in New Sharon, Maine, March 23, 
1804. Near that time> his parents became subjects 
of grace, and attended faithfully to the religious in- 
struction of their household. During childhood, 
young Samuel was, several times, the subject of 
distressing apprehensions on account of sin. His 
conscience, which appears to have been habitually 
tender, was often quickened^ at that period, by divine 
truth. 

At ten years of age he was left an orphan, by an 
epidemic which proved fatal to both his parents. A 
friend of his father now received him to his house, 
which, from that time, he considered his home. 
His fidelity and sweetness of temper soon endeared 
him to each member of the domestic circle, and he 
was uniformly treated as a son and brother. 
2 



14 MEMOIR OF. 

His boyhood was distinguished by the frank ac- 
knowledgment of his faults, kindness of disposition, 
a winning deportment, and that meek decision which 
was a leading characteristic of his riper years. His 
teachers esteemed him for his integrity and applica- 
tion to his task, and his mates always welcomed 
him as a fayourite companion on the play-ground, 
So strongly was young Munson attached to his 
studies, that he frequently retired, during the hours 
of relaxation at school, to gratify in solitude his 
strong thirst for knowledge. 

At nineteen years of age, the subject of this me- 
moir hopefully experienced " the washing of regen- 
eration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." As 
no particular account of his religious exercises at 
that period has been preserved, the following narra- 
tive of the Rev. Josiah Peet, of Norridgewock, 
drawn from personal knowledge and recollection, 
will be gratifying to the pious reader. 

"Labouring occasionally in the work of the min- 
istry in New Sharon, I became acquainted with 
Samuel Munson, some time in the year IS 18, he 
being at that time about 15 years of age. I re- 
garded him with interest, both from his personal ap- 
pearance, and also from the fact that he was an 
orphan. As my acquaintance increased, I per- 
ceived he was an unusually sedate, modest, reflect- 
ing, sensible youth. Were he to become pious, I 
thought, he would be a suitable young man to 



SAMUEL MUNSON. 15 

study for the ministry. His religious impressions 
commenced in the early part of the year 1823. His 
convictions were deep and scriptural. He saw him- 
self to be a depraved, guilty, and lost sinner ; and 
that nothing short of renewing grace, and an inter- 
est in the merits of an Almighty Saviour, could save 
him from impending, merited destruction. At 
length he was enabled, as he hoped, to cast himself 
upon the arms of the Saviour, and experienced 
peace in believing. Though the hope he cherished 
was a trembling one, he gave satisfactory evidence 
of a change of heart. He saw in himself such un- 
likeness to God, and so much that was wrong, that 
he was slow to believe there could be any thing 
truly good. 

"In the course of the summer, others, w 7 ho ob- 
tained hope at the same time with himself, offered 
themselves to the church, but he kept back, feeling 
himself to be too unworthy and unfit to take this 
important step. At a subsequent visit, however, I 
found that he had concluded it to be his duty to 
own Christ before men. Accordingly he offered 
himself for examination, and on the 28th of Sep- 
tember, 1823, was admitted to the church in full 
communion." 

Soon after his admission to the church his mind 
was much occupied with the question, whether he 
ought not to seek a preparation for work of the 
ministry. At length, after repeated interviews with 



16 HE5T0IE OF 

Mr. Peet, he resolved to enter upon a course of pre- 
paratory studies, and during several of the follow- 
ing months he received gratuitous instruction from 
his clerical friend. He then joined the Academy at 
Farmington, where he pursued his studies through 
the summer and fall. The next winter he taught 
school in his native town \ and though his pupils 
were formerly his school-fellows, they readily yield- 
ed the respect due to his superior attainments and 
Christian decision. That season, for the first time, 
prayer was offered in the school morning and even- 
ing. At the close of his engagement at New Sha- 
ron he returned to Farmington, where he remained 
till the fall of 1825, when he entered Bowdoin 
College. . 

The following account, which he drew up near 
the close of life, shows what difficulties opposed his 
first endeavours to prepare himself for the ministry. 

" In 1824 I was received under the patronage of 
the Maine Branch of the American Education So- 
ciety. About a year previous I indulged a hope in 
a precious revival in the town of New Sharon. 
Though I was then labouring on a farm, it was my 
prayer to God for many months, that he would di- 
rect me in the right way. I was desirous of doing 
good ; but how I could accomplish the most good 
did not then appear. 

" I wanted, but I dared not mention it to my most 
intimate friends, — I wanted to prepare myself to 



SAMUEL MUNSON. 17 

preach the gospel to the heathens. But my 
parents were both dead — I was destitute of pro- 
perty, nor had I friends who were able to assist 
me. During this state of suspense, a beloved friend 
in the ministry inquired of me what course I in- 
tended to take. I could not answer. The next 
time we met he suggested a preparation for the 
ministry. I told him, without reserve, all my diffi- 
culties and wants. He then mentioned the Educa- 
tion Society. I did not long deliberate. The next 
week found me toiling with my Latin Grammar. 
I studied a few weeks, and was examined by the 
Directors, who admitted me to their patronage. 

" But new perplexities beset me. The funds of 
the society were low ; and I resolved to do with as 
little assistance as possible. My wants, as stated to 
them, were always underrated. Indeed I did not 
wish to urge my claims upon them, while the 
wants of others better deserving their patronage, 
might be greater than mine. The consequence 
was, that, during my preparation for college, I re- 
ceived from them less than fifty dollars. 

a But my studies could not be prosecuted without 
books. To run in debt for them would be impru- 
dent. To borrow them was impossible. After every 
effort to procure them had failed, I sat down with 
the apprehension that this might be an obstacle 
thrown in my way by Providence, to prevent my 
progress towards the ministry, I felt perplexed and 



18 MEMOIR OF 

distressed. My feelings often found vent in tears. 
To abandon the enterprise seemed like giving up 
the hope of existence. At length a distant friend 
offered to lend me all the books I wanted. This 
dispensation of mercy dissipated my distressing 
doubts, and enabled me to go forward. 

" Though all the time that could be spared from 
my studies was employed in teaching school, yet pe- 
cuniary embarrassment was my constant compan- 
ion. When my studies at the academy were near- 
ly finished, I was compelled to leave my class, and 
return once more to the pursuits of the farm. The 
remuneration which I received for a few weeks' la- 
hour enabled me to defray the expenses of a journey 
to college, and meet incipient expenses there. I did 
not complain, though compelled to make a thanks- 
giving dinner on bread and milk. The object I 
had in view made me willing to submit to any 
measure of privation which would ensure ultimate 
success." 

What object is here meant has been already 
brought to view. c < Secret and inviolable springs" 
early set his heart towards missionary labour. This 
purpose, sacredly cherished in the deep places of his 
soul, continued steadfast through his academic and 
professional studies, constantly animating and guid- 
ing his intellectual pursuits. The difficulty of meet- 
ing unavoidable expenses, during his first year in 
college, occasioned so much anxiety, that he often 



SAMUEL MUNSON. 19 

found it impossible to apply his mind to study as he 
wished. 

" What adds to my perplexity/' he remarks, " is, 
that one of my intimate friends, in similar circum- 
stances, has sunk under his increasing burden. We 
frequently associated and took sweet counsel together. 
We frequently encouraged each other, and mingled 
our prayers and tears before the throne of grace. 
Nothing now lies before me but a dreary, dubious 
struggle. Were it not that I am persuaded the hand 
of God has brought me thus far, and still points 
onward, I should seek a refuge in the bosom of my 
friends. When Hook forward I see nothing in this 
world but one continued scene of labour and trial. 
When will this distressing anxiety, this body of sin, 
and these dreary prospects be exchanged for the 
calmness, purity, and never-ending felicities of the 
upper world I" 

While in college Mr. Munson united a uni- 
form diligence in the several branches of his study 
with the prayerful cultivation of spiritual religion. 
His Christian graces, we have reason to believe, 
escaped that sad eclipse which so many pious stu- 
dents suffer on entering our public institutions. The 
following sketch of his intellectual and religious 
character, w T hile a resident at Brunswick, is fur- 
nished chiefly by a gentleman connected with Bow 
doin College, who was more intimately acquainted 
with Mr. Munson than any other member of the 
faculty. 



20 MEMOIR OF 

"His intellectual character in college did not 
exhibit a decided superiority. He was a person of 
marked accuracy of judgment, more distinguished 
for this trait than for originality or imagination. To 
some extent, there was a want of quick discernment 
and comprehensive views of subjects. But although 
not rapid in the acquisition of knowledge, he com- 
pensated for this by his great perseverance, and a 
judicious application of his powers. He was a 
patient student, and was unwilling to leave a sub- 
ject without understanding it. He might be distin- 
guished by that invaluable quality, common sense, 
and insight into the proprieties of time and place, 
which rendered his efforts available more than they 
would otherwise have been. 

" There was much of decision in his character, 
and that decision which was ever ready for action. 
Not that he was rash, or headstrong, or adventure- 
some. On the contrary, he was a cautious man, 
not hasty in forming his determinations, but when 
he saw the way in which duty called him to go 
forward, he was ready to obey the summons. 

"He was of a contemplative cast of mind, prone 
to think long and intensely on the wretchedness of 
his fellow men, and highly susceptible of emotions 
of pity and compassion. When he looked on the 
degradation and wretchedness of those who dwell 
in lands of darkness and cruelty, his eye affected 
his hetrt, and there arose within him strong desires 



SAMUEL MITNSON. 21 

and resolute purposes to go to their relief. Few, 
perhaps, have in stronger exercise, that faith in 
God, and those desires for usefulness, which adopt 
at once the language, ' Here am I, send me.' 

" His religious character was well developed when 
in college. Every one saw in him one living under 
the influence of the Gospel. His deportment was 
serious, his feelings kind and equable, his discharge 
of duty conscientious, his spirit prayerful with a 
a deep and abiding sense of obligation to his God 
and Saviour. There was not one of his associates 
who, in looking back on college life, must not be 
ready to acknowledge, that if any one of their num- 
ber had the traits of the devoted missionary, Mun- 
son was that individual. His conscientiousness 
was very apparent, and was evinced by his close 
attention to all the studies of the college course, 
because they were required, when, had he followed 
his own inclination on the subject, as did some of 
his pious associates at that time, he would have 
attended more fully to some to the neglect of others. 
He always appeared to me as a fine specimen of 
one making the best use of his powers, and improv- 
ing to the utmost, his time and opportunities to 
acquire useful knowledge. He was modest and 
unassuming in his manners, with a slight tinge of 
melancholy in his appearance, which was perhaps 
constitutional." 

To do good and to communicate was Mr. Mun- 



22 MEMOIR OF 

son's practice and pleasure. Without infringing 
on the stated duties of college, he gathered a Sab- 
bath School two and a half miles distant. Its 
growing prosperity evinced his faithfulness and 
skill. The sick and wretched were not unfre- 
quently cheered by his visits. 

After listening to a missionary sermon, preached 
to the students by Rev. Mr. Stewart, of the Sand- 
wich Island mission, he longed " to fly as a herald 
of the Cross, to those benighted ones." But recol- 
lecting his situation, he says, "While I thank the 
Lord for the past, and pray for future success, may I 
inquire, c Lord what w r ilt thou have me to do V " 

While his associates could not fail to observe his 
growing excellence as a scholar and a Christian, the 
consciousness of painful deficiencies in both respects, 
induced him to " fear that his future usefulness 
would be very limited." " My soul," he says, " is 
still disordered and sick. My spiritual joys are 
withered ! O Lord, revive thy work in my heart !" 

The train of college studies, from which Mr. M. 
had gained solid and extensive benefit, closed in 
the year 1829. 



SAMUEL MUNSON. 23 



CHAPTER II. 

His professional studies at Andover — Attendance on Medical 
Lectures in Boston and Brunswick — Connection with the 
Missionary Society of Barnstable County — Marriage. 

On entering the Seminary at Andover, hundreds 
have experienced a sacred and unutterable pleasure, 
springing partly from intercourse with congenial 
spirits, and partly from such engagements as pro- 
mote a thorough knowledge of divine truth and the 
growth of spiritual religion. 

An additional source of happiness and improve- 
ment is opened before one who aspires to the func- 
tion of a Christian missionary. He enters the rooms 
where Mills and Hall, with their associates, wept and 
prayed together. He reads the weighty and solemn 
arguments by which those servants of God enforced 
the claims of the heathen. He is assured by many 
witnesses, that those sons of Andover who embarked 
in the first missions from America, aim to be " exam- 
ples in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in 
faith, in purity." He also holds daily interviews 
with those few, who, like himself, intend to l preach 
Christ' in some distant field of pollution and wretch- 
edness. Thus the fire which was perhaps almost 



24 MEMOIR OF 

quenched in college, is fanned to a flame, and the 
whole character displays, in a short time, a happy 
and decisive improvement. 

No part of the prescribed course of studies, and 
no opportunities for making useful acquisitions were 
neglected by the subject of this sketch. Few of his 
class-mates knew at the time, with what diligence 
he explored the field of biblical knowledge, and pre- 
served in writing the results of his inquiries. Sev- 
eral small volumes of MSS. written at this period, 
evince that he purposed to be " a scribe, well instruc- 
ted into the kingdom of heaven." The following 
remarks of one in all respects well qualified to judge, 
will doubtless be pronounced strictly just by those 
who knew Mr. Munson at Andover. 
1 Of our lamented brother I entertained a very 
high opinion from the time of our first acquaint- 
ance; and the more intimate I became with him 
the higher this opinion rose. Though possessed of 
very strong feelings, his natual temperament was 
phlegmatic, rather than sanguine. He had a sound 
judgment, an unusual share of prudence, a good 
knowledge of human nature, and a well disciplined 
and an uncommonly well balanced mind. As a 
student he was diligent and thorough. His talents 
were highly respectable, — solid rather than showy. 

" The moral excellencies of brother Munson were 
many. His piety was ardent and deep toned, ex- 
erting upon his whole character a controlling influ- 



S A 1 t E L MTJNSON. 25 

ence. He had a good degree of zeal, and it was 
well tempered and well directed by knowledge. To 
sum up all, in a single expression, his character 
was beautifully symmetrical.*' 

The habit of being punctual and systematic, 
which he carefully maintained, enabled him to cul- 
tivate several branches of study which, by not a 
few, are entirely dropped on leaving college. In 
whatever quarter his researches were directed, the 
commanding motive was the same, — the highest 
possible usefulness as an ambassador of Christ to 
the heathen. Whether exploring the difficulties of 
the sacred text, or the field of physical science, 
H The love of Christ constrained him." It was his 
firm belief, that the minister and the missionary 
should be the last men to grow remiss in stated ef- 
forts to invigorate and enrich their minds. That 
his practice to the close of life coincided with this 
conviction is certain. 

We have already noticed some of the early indi- 
cations that the Lord of the harvest designed Mr. 
Munson should devote himself to the foreign ser- 
vice. At Andover the subject of his prayers and 
hopes for several years called for a new and solemn 
consideration. The following extracts from a letter 
to one whom he could address "without restraint/ 
present one of those trains of thought which 
brought him to a final determination. 

" I find in myself a mixture of feelings which it 
3 



26 MEMOIR OF 

is difficult to analyze. There is a novelty connect- 
ed with the missionary life, — a voyage across the 
ocean,— a tour perhaps among the ruins of an- 
cient Greece, or a visit to the land which was the 
theatre of our Saviour's mission and the city over 
whicli he wept,— or perhaps an abode in some re- 
mote yet beautiful island in the Pacific, where 
nature has lent all her charms to give elegance 
and enchantment to her luxuries ; such prospects 
connected with the success that has attended the 
missionary effort, and the urgent call for more la- 
bourers, have at times so wrought upon my feel- 
ings, that I have thought I could stay here no 
longer. Yet such a spirit is as different from the 
true missionary spirit, as light from darkness. It 
would wither before toils and sufferings, like the 
blighted blossom in the noon-day sun. It is the 
ardour of youth, instead of the spirit of Christ. It 
is a creature of self, instead of that which seeketh 
not her own. Such feelings then must be banished. 
"It is sometimes supposed, that if an individual 
has a willingness or desire to devote himself to the 
missionary work, it is of course his duty. If he 
could be satisfied that the desire originated from the 
special Providence of God, he might safely yield to 
it. If an inclination to become a missionary is, of 
itself, sufficient evidence of duty, then the want of 
such an inclination will, with equal certainty, excuse 
one. 



SAMUEL MUNSON. 27 

li But it is often said to theological students, ' You 
dare not examine the subject, lest you should be 
convinced that it is your duty to go to th^ heathen.' 
There can be no doubt there are ministers settled in 
New England who, had they impartially examined 
the subject, would now have been in heathen lands. 
And perhaps others among the heathen had they 
done ihe same, would now have been in New Eng- 
land. Not that a warm attachment to missions is 
to be disregarded ; but it is not of itself a satisfacto- 
ry evidence of duty. 

" I have been fully convinced of late, that in order 
to find any truth, we must first get into the path 
that leads directly to it, and then divest ourselves 
of those partialities and prejudices which would di- 
vert us from that path. This is a task of no ordi- 
nary magnitude ; but it must be done. The first 
point that presents itself for our consideration, is the 
comparative claims of our own country and the 
heathen. The papulation of New England is 
1,803,000. In this population there are, of all de- 
nominations, about 18G0 ministers; or one to every 
thousand inhabitants. In the United States there 
are perhaps four millions, out of the twelve mil- 
lions, destitute of the means of grace. But among 
those four millions are employed about four hundred 
missionaries, or one missionary to every ten thou- 
sand souls. But the whole number of missionaries 
sent from this country to the five hundred millions 



28 M E M O I R O F 

of perishing heathen does not exceed seventy ; and 
the number of missionaries from all Christendom 
now employed among the heathen does not exceed 
five hundred, or 5 one missionary to a million of 
souls. The most destitute parts of the United 
States, compared with the heathen have, at this 
moment, a supply of ten to one. From four hun- 
dred and twenty-two students that graduated from 
this seminary previous to the year 1827, thirty- 
three have become foreign missionaries : i. e. less 
than one twelfth of the whole number ; or, while 
eleven have been retained to supply the waste 
places in our own country, one has been sent to the 
heathen ! And yet this institution, by way of emi- 
nence, has been called the Foreign Mission Semi- 
nary ; because it has sent out more missionaries than 
any other institution in the land. These facts show 
that theological students, in general, have not imita- 
ted the first missionary to the Gentiles, who strove 
< to preach the Gospel where Christ had not been 
named, lest he should build upon another man's 
foundation.' 

"It is often said that our own country ought first 
to be cultivated, and then there will be time enough 
to send missionaries abroad. Such objections I 
have carefully considered. Facts contradict them. 
When has the church ever done so much to spread 
the gospel at home, as since the establishment 
of Foreign Missions? A common enquiry, to be 



SAMUEL MUNSON. 29 

be sure, but one that cannot be too often re- 
peated." 

Having made his election among the various 
spheres of Christian benevolence, before Him who 
is the witness and the judge of all things, Mr. 
Muhson was not to be diverted from his course. 
The question was settled. From that time no one 
suspected that he was a victim of the wretchedness 
and imbecility that always cleave to "a double- 
minded man," 

The very imperfect journal which Mr. Munson 
kept at this period, supplies a few notices in respect 
to his religious experience, which, in the judgment 
of most persons, it were wrong to omit in this sketch. 

"Jan. 16, 1831. — Detained from the house of 
God to-day by ill health; had my customary sea- 
sons of special prayer for the promotion of Christ's 
kingdom among the heathen ; remembered with 
special interest the Chinese mission ; was enabled 
to pray with unusual earnestness for our dear breth- 
ren labouring there : while I looked over the dark 
empire, my soul went out after God, nesting on his 
unfailing promises for the salvation of those bewil- 
dered millions. 

" 30th. — Have spent the day far from God — cold, 
lifeless ; one favourable symptom ; I think my soul 
does begin to mourn. Blessed Saviour, feed my soul 
with the bread of life. 

"March 1st. — Spent the day in secret fasting and 



30 MEMOIR OF 

prayer ; read with deep interest the 11th of Mat- 
thew. 

"March 2d. — Fell into a foolish dispute respecting 
the propriety of excluding a man from the church 
who would not abstain from ardent spirits ; I gained 
my point, but suffered an abatement of good feeling ; 
have enjoyed some comfortable views of Christ as 
a Saviour, for which I owe him everlasting grati- 
tude. 

" March 3d. — Had a sweet season of prayer this 
morning; could scarcely utter any language but 
that of praise. 

" April 1st. — Have been trying to recollect some of 
my c easily besetting sins ;' something must be radi- 
cally wrong : surely this stupidity, this utter indif- 
ference, which so often takes possession of my heart, 
cannot be without a cause. Excessive levity is one 
fault against which I need particularly to guard ; 
with that I am resolved to proclaim hostilities ; the 
Lord help a worm to gain thee victory. 

"Dec. 7th, 1831.— Tome this has been a day of 
solemn interest; it has been set apart by my class- 
mates as a day of fasting and prayer ; it is the day 
appointed by the faculty to give us license to preach ; 
a season most fit to throw my thoughts back on the 
past ; I will tell the story of my trials and deliver- 
ances to Jesus, and mingle it with my praises. 

" It is almost nine years since I indulged a hope in 
Christ, and more than eight since I quit the farm, 
bade adieu to my friends, and commenced a course 



SAMUEL MUNSON. 31 

of preparation for the ministry. The record of my 
life is kept above, but the mercies of God are too 
deeply graven on my memory to be forgotten. All 
along has he sustained me. Through my prepara- 
tory studies — through college — in trial — in suffer- 
ing — in temptation and in toil has he been a pre- 
sent helper. 

" At length he has brought me so near the attain- 
ment of my object; blessed be his holy name. 
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within 
me, praise the Lord. 

" Without solicitude for the future, again I cast 
myself, blessed Saviour, upon thy protection, and in 
my future life may I not claim that precious promise 
c Lo, I am with you always V n 

Mr. Munson's first sermon in the chapel of the 
seminary, from John viii : 34, produced an impres- 
sion, it is believed, uncommonly deep and salutary. 
The Society of Inquiry, and the Committee on 
Foreign Missions in particular, always found him at 
his post,-— an associate on whose sound judgment 
and abiding zeal it was safe to rely. His remarks 
and addresses, especially on taking leave of the 
society, as their president, were characterized by a 
power and unction which bespoke the lofty aim and 
the fervent love of a true missionary. Both in his 
public exercises, and in those solemn interviews 
which were designed to call the attention of par- 
ticular persons to the wants of the heathen, it was 



32 MEMOIR OF 

evident that he spake "out of the abundance of 
the heart." 

The greater part of the year after he left Ando- 
ver, Mr. Munson devoted to the study of medicine 
in Boston and Brunswick ; the prudential commit- 
tee of the Board deeming some knowledge of the 
healing art highly important to a missionary in the 
East. At Brunswick, those who had known him 
while a member of college, noticed the striking pro- 
gress, intellectual and spiritual, which he had made 
at Andover. 

Congregations in the vicinity, among which he 
spent his Sabbaths, will not soon forget his persua- 
sive appeals in behalf of the heathen. His dis- 
courses on this subject commenced with the discus- 
sion of some evangelical doctrine, which was then 
shown to authorize and imperatively demand, sys- 
tematic, unremitted efforts for the salvation of men. 
As his own experience had taught him the depen- 
dence of a ruined sinner on the sovereign mercy of 
God, he strove to cherish in the minds of Christians, 
the belief that without " the spirit that quickeneth," 
the wisest plans and the most abundant labours must 
utterly fail to bring a single pagan to the knowledge 
of the truth. 

Just before his embarkation, Mr. Munson preached 
a sermon from Acts viii : 4, which was published by 
the Board as one of their '•' Missionary Papers." 
This eloquent tribute to the "spirit of primitive 



SAMUEL MUNSON. 33 

Christianity," shows that its author delighted to 
commune with primitive saints, of whom it has been 
said, " To suffer and to love was their taste." 

Like them he expected soon to encounter sharp 
trials, and to stand in need of the same strength 
that was made perfect in their weekness. 

The friends of missions in Barnstable County, 
Mass., where Mr. Munson had spent several weeks 
in the service of the Board, and where he was 
ordained, proposed to become responsible for his sup- 
port while engaged in missionary labours. An 
arrangement for this purpose was accordingly made 
with the parent society by the auxiliary of that 
county. This proof of Christian confidence produ- 
ced a happy effect on Mr. Munson's mind, and the 
correspondence which he maintained with that soci- 
ety, confirmed their interest in him, and the cause 
to which they were pledged. 

Shortly after his marriage with Miss Abby John- 
son, of Brunswick, Maine, Mr. Munson was sum- 
moned to Boston, to be in readiness for his em- 
barkation. 



34 MEM OIK OF 



CHAPTER III. 

Early life of Henry Lyrnan — His character on entering college— 
Conversion — Consequent improvement in scholarship — Inter- 
est in Missions. 

« 

Henry Lyman was born at Northampton, 
Massachusetts, November 23d, 1809. He was the 
oldest son, and the third child, of Theodore and 
Susan W. Lyman, both natives of that town, where 
they resided till 1827, when they removed to Am- 
herst, a few miles distant. Shortly after his birth, 
Henry was taken so ill that his life was almost des- 
paired of. While in that dangerous condition, as 
he was lying in his cradle, his father, in an act of 
solemn devotion, dedicated him to the Lord, and re- 
solved, if he should be spared, to educate him for the 
Holy Ministry. The infant's life, which hung in 
doubt a short season, was mercifully preserved, and 
the tender vows of his parent were kept in faithful 
remembrance. Mr. and Mrs. Lyman deemed it 
their first care to impress divine truth on the minds 
of all their children at a very early stage, and with 
strict regularity maintained the several branches of 
domestic religion. 



HENRY LYMAN. 35 

The subject of this sketch, when a child, was dis- 
tinguished among his brothers by a prompt and 
cheerful obedience to his parents, and a disposition 
to anticipate their wants. 

He also displayed, at an early period, a remark- 
able love of neatness and order. Having completed 
the Elementary studies, customarily taught in the 
common schools of New-England, he commenced 
preparation for college, purely in compliance with 
the wishes of his father ; for the plan w r as not at all 
to his taste. His lively and enterprising spirit would 
have been well pleased with the pursuits of com- 
merce or agriculture ; almost any thing, indeed, 
rather than the grievous drudgm^which he fancied 
to be inseparable from the life of a scholar. Till 
his hopes and aims received a new and nobler direc- 
tion, he marvelled at his father's choice, and gave 
only a reluctant and moderate attention to his 
books. 

Reviewing his early life, Mr. Lyman confessed, 
that he w T as a great source of trouble to his teachers. 
" Not unfrequently," he remarks, " did I smart 
under the rod, and, except in one case, always de- 
servedly. One teacher remarked before the school, 
that he hoped he should not be obliged, in future, to 
punish any boys so much as he had me. 

" My first oath is written on my memory as with a 
pen of iron. The time, the place, the circumstances, 
are before my mind as if it were yesterday. When 



86 MEMOIR 01 

at the age of ten or twelve, I had returned from 
school with two or three of my companions, and 
was standing near my father's house, I muttered 
out the oath, for I feared to speak it boldly. i What 
would your father say if he heard that!' exclaimed 
my companion : < Henry Lyman, what would your 
father say if he heard that !' was the response of 
conscience. I felt as if I had taken a great stride in 
the broad road. It was truly a fearful step. I felt 
my moral nature tremble under the shock. Every 
thing around, as if taking cognizance of the fact to 
bear testimony at the judgment day, impressed itself 
on my mind, and at this day, though twelve years 
have passed, I see the appearance of the buildings, 
the earth, the sky, and the countenances of my com- 
panions. I hear even now that oath ringing in my 
ears, and the voice that uttered the reproof* 

" Another gross sin was the violation of the eighth 
commandment. This never extended further than 
tresspasses upon father's change drawer. Once I 
was detected by my father and punished with the 
rodt For this I had no care only while I felt the 
smart. Detecting me again, he took me aside and 
prayed with me, and left me to an half hour's inter- 
view between my conscience and God. This was 
too much for me. The eye of God ! The pains of 
hell! I shrunk back and resolved to reform. For 
months I kept my promise." 

This temporary reformation was followed by ad- 



HENRY LYMAN. 37 

ditional offences, and open violations of duty, in 
several particulars, became so frequent, that Mr, 
Lyman, at a subsequent period, looked back with 
horror upon the destructive course which he then 
pursued. 

Having completed his preparatory studies at 
Northampton and Hadley, he joined the freshmen 
class, in Amherst College,, at the commencement of 
1826. 

A youth, on entering college, even if he is forti- 
fied by religious principle and a wholesome disci- 
pline, comes within the sphere of moral dangers 
proverbially great. To acquit himself with credit 
as a scholar, and to maintain stated communion 
with God as a Christian, the pious student needs a 
large " supply of the spirit of Christ." He will 
" give thanks to God always," upon the recollection 
of the snares which he was enabled to shun during 
that critical period. 

But when these dangers surround the young 
scholar who " makes a mock at sin," and seeks a 
front rank among those who "set their mouth 
against the heavens," it is well nigh "hoping 
against hope" to expect that he will not sink in the 
depths of wickedness. 

With no better prospects, according to his own 
confession, and the testimony of his associates, 
young Lyman went to Amherst in the fall of 1&26. 

" My recollections of him," says a class-mate, 
4 



88 MEMOIR OF 

"from the time of his entering college, are quite 
distinct. His traits of character were such as al- 
most necessarily to attract attention. He was pecu- 
liarly ardent, active, and gay. During the first 
year and a half he was the acknowledged leader 
of the " wild part 7 ' of his class, and no great ex- 
ploit could be performed without his aid. Sociable, 
frank, and good-natured, he was a favourite com- 
panion. From my first acquaintance with him I 
felt a deep interest in his welfare, and earnestly de- 
sired that his prominent talents, and active mind, 
should be consecrated to the service of God." 

"It was apparent," observes the revered President 
of Amherst College, " that he had within him the 
elements of energy and enterprise : but whether for 
good or for ill, was exceedingly problematical, as he 
was at that time far from being religiously inclined. 
At times, we felt a good deal of uneasiness about 
him, as there were some perilous influences around 
him in college, and as he seemed too much inclined 
to yield himself to their sway." 

The " bad eminence" to which he speedily rose 
may be inferred from the following passage in the 
" Corner Stone," by Rev. Jacob Abbot, at that time 
a member of the faculty. The leader referred to 
was Lyman. 

"The officers were much encouraged, (in view 
of favourable religious appearances) but our hopes 
were all dispelled by the success of a manoeuvre 



HENRY LYMAN. 39 

which is so characteristic of college life and man- 
ners, (hat I will describe it. The plan adopted by 
the enemies of religion was, to come up boldly, and 
face the awakening interest, and, as it were, brave 
it down. The first indication of this design which 
I perceived was this. I had been invited by the 
serious portion of the students, to address them 
one Saturday evening in a recitation room. The 
door opened, and in walked, one after another, six 
or eight of the most bold, hardened, notorious ene- 
mies of religion which the institution contained. 
They walked in, took their seats in a row, directly 
before me, and looked me in the face, — saying by 
their countenances most distinctly, i Sir, we defy you 
and all your religion : ? — and yet it was with that 
peculiar address with which a wild college student 
can execute his plans, so that there was not the 
slightest breach of any rule of external propriety, 
or any tangible evidence of intentional disrespect. 
I can see the leader now, as distinctly as if he was 
before me: — his tall form, manly countenance, and 
energetic look. He maintained his ground as the ene- 
my of God and religion, for a year after this time. 57 
Of the numerous revivals which have occurred 
in Amherst College, that of 1827 was distinguished 
for its power and the genuineness of its fruits. 
Those who witnessed the wonderful works of God 
at that memorable season, do not hesitate to mention 
among the most striking cases of sudden, radical 



40 MEM'OIROF 

change, the name of Henry Lyman. Some ac- 
count of this transformation is here given in his 
own language. 

"Lest I should forget the particular way in 
which I was led by the Spirit, I will here record it 
for the sake of a frequent perusal. But lest I 
should forget also ' the hole of the pit whence I 
was digged/ and thus be made to think lightly of 
the grace that saved me, I will briefly notice my 
previous character, 

" The next spring after I entered college, there 
was a partial awakening among Christians, and I 
believe one or two hopeful conversions. At times 
I was quite anxious. And again quite loud in ridi- 
culing { i he pious. 5 I was unwilling to be known as 
seeking the Lord. While, therefore, I was fore- 
most among my companions at the card table, in 
profane carousals, and mock prayer meetings, I 
would, as soon as by myself, call on God to redeem 
my soul. About this time, too, a revival com- 
menced in my native place. A beloved sister was 
one of the first subjects of the work. Being but 
eight miles distant, I was often at home. I saw 
many of my friends, and those quite intimate, 
coming out and acknowledging themselves on the 
Lord's side. The thought of being left alone in 
the world made me at times unhappy ; still I disre- 
garded all warnings and entreaties. My sister was 
particularly earnest and persevering, but I met her 



HENRY LYMAN. 41 

with scoffs and ridicule. Some friends were injudi- 
cious in their conversation ; of this I made a han- 
dle. One talked for half an hour in this strain : 
That I was l going to hell straight as I could go. 
and if I did not repent at that moment I should be 
damned,' He might as well have talked to the 
wind. He did not seem to care for my soul. An- 
other used underhanded means to get me to his 
house, and then resorted to unfair means to keep 
me while he w T as holding a lecture, the substance 
of which was, 1 1 might as well repent, for if I 
went to hell I should have to fight my way there. 
It was utterly impossible to get there without great 
exertions, through so many prayers as were offered 
for me.' He also judged so illy as to tell me that 
he talked with me at my sister's request, and gave 
me a letter from her on the subject of my soul's 
concerns. As soon as possible I left this man, pity- 
ing him for his weakness, and so vexed at his arti- 
fice, and his cold impertinence, that I tore the letter 
into a thousand pieces, and scattered the fragments 
to the four winds. In the fall vacation I deter- 
mined to be out of the infected atmosphere, and ab- 
sented myself on a journey. My understanding 
was convinced of the necessity of regeneration, but 
my heart did not feel it. At the close of the vaca- 
tion I returned to college more hardened than ever. 
" As I would not hearken to entreaties, promises, 
and threatenings, a merciful God sent his judg- 
4* 



42 MEMOIS OF 

ment. I was brought by a fever to the borders of 
the grave, and for more than a week my friends 
and physicians thought the contest doubtful. Con- 
trary to their expectations, however, I recovered. 

"Before my health was fully established I re- 
turned to college, and put off the great concern 
from time to time till the winter vacation. This 
vacation was a continual round of wickedness in the 
extreme ; and how a righteous God could bear with 
me so long, excites gratitude and wonder. So great 
had been my dissipation that, through fear of under- 
mining my constitution, I determined at the com- 
mencement of the spring term, 1827, to reform. I 
now lived a very different life, though still opposed 
to the laws of God. 

"After the revival began, I frequently endea- 
voured to draw my religious class-mates into a dis- 
pute upon the doctrines of the Bible, for the sake 
of wounding their feelings, and to let them know 
how hardened and wicked I was. I continued op- 
posing the work of God till Tuesday, April 17. 
On the morning of that day I rose with such feel- 
ings as I never had before. I had no longer a desire 
to keep company with my old associates, or to en- 
gage in frivolous conversation. 

"This seriousness increased till Wednesday morn- 
ing, when, walking out before breakfast, I was 
more than ever sensible of my need of religion ; 
but how to obtain it I knew not. I made a solemn 



HENRY LYMAN. 43 

vow in the presence of God, that I would neither 
eat nor sleep till I had obtained it. At 8 o'clock 
attended a prayer meeting of my class and wept 
very much; more, I believe, because I knew not 
how to obtain religion, than on account of my sins. 
After meeting, by the advice of one of my class- 
mates, I called on the President and told him the 
state of my feelings, and what resolution I had 
formed. He advised me to read the fifteenth, six- 
teenth, eighteenth and nineteenth chapters of St. 
Luke — eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of Romans; 
and the fifty-third, fifty-fourth and fifty -fifth of 
Isaiah. After praying with me, I left him, and 
retired to a grove, where I read the chapters pointed 
out, and spent the time in prayer till nearly 12 
o'clock, and not being able any longer to with- 
stand my appetite, and as I had made the vow, 
came to the conclusion that it was impossible to 
get religion. My conscience reproved me for com- 
ing to such a conclusion, but 1 endeavoured to 
quiet it by saying, I had probably committed the 
unpardonable sin. The reason why I said this 
was because I had slighted so many warnings, and 
such means as I had always enjoyed. 

"After this I felt quite calm, and after eating 
dinner, returned to college, and began to laugh with 
my old companions. I never served the wicked 
one so much in any year of my life before, as I did 
in the following twenty-four hours. Scoffing at 



44 MEMOIR OF 

the Bible, profaning the name of God, laughing, 
ridiculing the prayers of his people, to such lengths 
as made others tremble. Well do I remember the 
countenance of one of my classmates as we met 
in the hall that afternoon* He stopped and looked 
at me with a countenance expressive of astonish- 
ment and pity ; that look pierced my soul. It 
made an impression which time can never efface. 
It made me tremble; and the only way in which 
I could find relief, was by launching forth in the 
greatest extremes of wickedness, and opposing the 
revival and every thing of a serious nature ; but 
conscience, that faithful monitor, was all the time 
reproving loudly and calling upon me to turn. 

"The next day (Friday) was a day of fasting 
and prayer in college. After the afternoon service, 
our president sent for me to his study, and conversed 
with me very affectionately, telling me that although 
I had broken my vow there still was hope ; the sin 
was in making, not breaking it. I left him with 
the determination to begin again, and not make any 
more vows. 

" An alarm for myself began again, and from this 
time increased t il the next Wednesday, and during 
that time I was reading religious books, attending 
meetings, or in prayer almost continually. Wed- 
nesday morning one of m) r class-mates offered me 
his room, that I might be alone. There I spent the 
time in meditation and prayer till about three o'clock, 



HENRY LYMAN. 45 

P. M.j when a class-mate came and informed me 
that my room-mate expressed a hope of pardoned 
sins, and that he feared 1 should be left to grieve 
away the Holy Spirit. This alarmed me to such a 
degree I hardly knew what to do. As soon as he 
left me, I prayed for some time that God would 
direct me in the right path, and lead me by his Holy 
Spirit, in such a manner that I might submit myself 
to him, for I saw myself to be in the wrong way, 
and entirely unable to direct myself aright: I knew 
not how to seek. About fifteen minutes before the 
bell rang for evening prayers, I was in very great 
distress, and cried unto the Lord that he would hear 
and have mercy upon me. My mind seemed to be 
torn in pieces. I thought I had submitted myself 
entirely to my Maker, but I found no relief. Some- 
thing was wrong, but what I could not tell. It 
seemed to be sin to pray, and sin to withhold prayer, 
and yet I could not assist myself in the least. It 
appeared as though all the time I had been 
under conviction, I had been sinning to the highest 
degree, for I had been trusting to my prayers, and 
endeavouring to derive aid from Christi ns rather 
than Christ, and trying to climb up some other way, 
and be saved any way rather than by the right- 
eousness f Christ. I just began to perceive I had 
not been acting from the heart, I had not been " stri- 
ving," and my mouth had given the lie to my heart. 
I had not before perceived that it was this wicked 



46 MEMOIROF 

thing which stood in the way, that this was yet in 
open rebellion against so much mercy. 

" What to do in this situation I knew not. I 
knew what was required in the Bible. I had been 
told over and over again by my friends what Imust 
do, and thought I had done all that was required ; 
yet my heart told me I had not, and that something 
more was wanting. In distress, I thought I would 
go to my room-mate and find out what he had done, 
in hopes 1 might find what I should do. When 
asked, he smiled, and said he could not tell me what 
to do, O, how I loathed that smile ! if he had 
aimed a dagger at my heart, he would not so much 
have stirred up my feelings. I burst into tears, and 
walked the room, for the first and only time in my 
life, in distress. It was like tearing in sunder soul 
and body." 

Without giving the narrative entire from this 
period, it may suffice to state, that it was only a 
short time before these painful exercises of alarm 
and conviction, gave place to an unutterable delight 
in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Mr. Lyman was thoroughly persuaded that this 
change resulted from the special influence of the 
Holy Spirit. Before it took place, it appears from 
the foregoing account, that, he reported, in vain, to 
the very expedients which are prescribed as infalli- 
ble by the advocates of regeneration by self-love. 
His meditations, his solemn vows, his earnest endea- 



HENRY LYMAN. 47 

vours, — what was their effect? Precisely the same 
as is experienced in every case of genuine convic- 
tion,— a deep sense of helplessness, joined with the 
belief that salvation depends on the sovereign mercy 
of God. These characteristics, it is well known, 
belonged, in a high degree, to the experience of 
David Brainard ; nor is it easy to see how the 
reverse agrees with scripture, which represents men 
as "dead in trespasses and sins." 

" I recollect," writes a pious class-mate, " a short 
interview I had with Lyman about fifteen minutes 
before he obtained relief. The day had been a 
fine one for the season of the year ; all nature 
seemed hushed in silence. An almost perfect still- 
ness reigned throughout the college hall, interrupted 
only by the voice of agonizing prayer or grateful 
praise. The Holy Ghost came down that day with 
unwonted power. Before the sun disappeared 
behind the western hills, seven of my beloved fel- 
low students had been brought out of the bondage 
of sin and Satan into the glorious liberty of the 
children of God. It was late in the afternoon that 
I repaired to L.'s room for the purpose of conversing 
with him and his room-mate, upon the great subject 
which then absorbed all our minds. L. was absent 
in a neighbouring grove where he had been spending 
most of the day alone with his Maker in deep 
anguish of spirit. After a few minutes, and just as 
the bell was ringing for prayers, L. entered with a 



48 Memoir of 

Bible in his hand, and with a countenance the very 
image of despair. No sooner was the door closed, 
than he exclaimed with the deepest emotion, ! Bro- 
ther B. what shall 1 do? what shall 1 do V at the 
same time bursting into tsars 9 and crying like a 
little child. When urged to give up the controversy, 
and yield his heart to the Saviour, he replied, that this 
he had been trying to do all day but without avail ; 
and again he sobbed and groaned aloud, still exclaim- 
ing, 'what shall I do V Fearing that he was 
trusting to his own efforts and the prayers of Chris- 
tians, 1 remarked that he might well despair of any 
thing he could do, (short of coming to Christ,) or 
that his Christian friends could do for him ; at the 
same time assuring him that there was an infinite 
fulness in the Redeemer, and that to doubt his wil^ 
lingness to save every returning prodigal, w T as 
exceedingly ungrateful and wicked, inasmuch as he 
had declared that he would in no wise cast out any 
that come to him. I had time to make only two 
or three other suggestions of this kind before the 
tolling bell hastened us into the chapel. During that 
evening 1 saw him again, and he seemed truly an 
altered and happy man. 

" The change was very marked and striking. All 
his ardour and energy were devoted to the service 
of Christ. His piety was almost uniformly glow- 
ing Frequently, in time of religious declension, he 
would come to my room, and after uniting in prayer, 



HENRY LYMAN. 49 

would sit down and propose measures for promoting 
the spiritual interests of college. 

" No person of my acquaintance ever manifested 
a deeper interest in social prayer meetings. At such 
times he would pour forth the desires of his heart 
with great fervency. No one who ever heard him 
pray will forget his peculiarly earnest manner." 

After stating some particulars of Mr. Lyman's 
conversion, Drv Humphrey adds : " From that time 
his course was very decided and consistent. He 
was not a man to go by the halves in any thing. 
He turned right about. Every body saw the great 
change in his whole deportment; and no one, I 
believe, doubted his sincerity in the profession which 
he made at the close of the year. Thenceforward he 
applied himself diligently to his studies, and he held 
a respectable standing in his class when he gradu- 
ated. After that I saw him but seldom. But it was 
evident to me as I met him from time to time, that he 
was growing in grace, and would, if life should be 
spared, more than fulfil the highest expectations 
which his friends had indulged while he was a mem- 
ber of college. How much he would have done 
had he lived, we know not ; but certainly, take him 
all in all, he was a young man of great promise in 
the c sacramental host of God's elect.' " 

Soon after the happy change described above, a 
vacation occurred in college, during which Mr. Ly- 
man suffered much on account of his " confused 
5 



50 MEMOIEOF 

notions of religious duty," and the remembrance of 
those practices to which he had formerly been addict- 
ed. This last source of trial often supplied him, 
during the remainder of his life, with motives to 
watchfulness and self-mortification. 

The solemn dedication of himself to God, which 
he made about this time, appears to have been instru- 
mental of much spiritual benefit during his connex- 
ion with college, for he conscientiously recurred to it 
at particular seasons, and found it the occasion of 
deep searchings of heart, and of sweet meditations 
on the Redeemer's faithfulness and love. 

A few extracts from the journal which he kept 
during his junior year, will best show the variations 
and general progress of his religious experience. 

" Dec. 12th. — This evening I think I feel, in an 
unusual degree, my entire dependence on the Holy 
Spirit to draw my affections towards God. 

" Feb. 7. — In prayer with my roorn-matejthis even- 
ing ; caught myself several times attendingto the form 
of the words more than the spirit ; fear all my prayers 
are offered with a view to make myself happy and 
acceptable in the eyes of God, instead of being offered 
in Jasus' name, and that he might be glorified. 

" 8. — Awoke this morning with the love of God in 
my heart ; this evening feel constrained to search 
my heart ; corruption and wickedness still abound. 

a 14.— The past has been a short week j have felt 
more like devoting myself and all I have to Christ ; 



HENRY LYMAN. 51 

more indifferent to the opinions of the world, and 
more willing to do the whole will of God than for 
some time past — yet how many sad reflections at 
my misimprovement of time, and the proud, selfish, 
envious affections of my heart ! 

"27. — Read this noon the account of President 
Edwards' conversion ; am I not deceiving myself 
as he was for some time after he supposed his heart 
was changed ? There have been seasons when I 
thought I enjoyed God's presence ; but " Satan 
transforms himself into an angel of light." 

"28. — Give way to temptation easier than I 
breathe; is it possible that 1 can ever gain heaven? 
if so, the patience and mercy of God are infinite. 

" March 1. — Retired last night rejoicing in my 
God, and awoke with much the same feeling this 
morning ; O, that I might walk in the fear of the 
Lord all the day. Though I begin the day with 
God, yet I neglect to watch and pray ; I complain 
because I have trials ; David had trials, too, and 
shall I complain ? in his own pious strain he says, 
c Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your 
hearts, all ye that hope in the Lord.' 

"Aug. 9. — This evening a brother came before 
the church with a written confession of aggravated 
departures from the path of duty ; felt that I should 
like to join him in making acknowledgments and 
in requesting the prayers of the church." 

Near the beginning of his senior year, Mr. Lyman 



5"2 MEMOIR OF 

seems to have reflected much on the danger of trust- 
ing in his own heart. At that period he made the 
humiliating discovery that in his religious engage- 
ments he had not been free from " a desire to become 
renowned in the church for piety/ 7 and often lament- 
ed bitterly the prevalence of " selfish thoughts." 

" Nov. 23. — O, that I might remember this text 
through the year ; c Walk in the spirit, and ye shall 
not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. V 

In the midst of painful conflicts with bosom-sins, 
he was sometimes cheered with such meditations as 
the following : 

" Had peculiar joy in contemplating the condi- 
tion of him who overcomes, who hath washed his 
robes and made them white in the blood of the 
Lamb. He joins the thousands of thousands' 
around the throne, saying, ? Thou art worthy, O 
Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power ;' ' Sal- 
vation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and 
unto the Lamb.' " 

A desire to make Christ known to the heathen 
appears to have sprung up in Mr. Lyman's heart, 
almost as soon as his religious life began. That it 
formed an important element in his Christian expe- 
rience at college is beyond doubt. In his stated sea- 
sons of devotion, he poured out his heart in strong 
cries and tears for the pagan world. 

After reading the last chapter of Matthew one 
evening, he found his " heart enlarged in prayer for 



HENRY LYMAN. 53 

the heathen. Why is it that God gives me plea- 
sure in praying- for them? Why these desires? Why 
so much meditation upon them ? Why are all my 
thoughts and feelings inclined that way if the Lord 
of the harvest does not intend that I shall go and 
preach to the nations V 

Under another date he speaks of " hearing a dis- 
course from Mr. Dwight, appointed on a mission to 
Greece, which led him to seek Divine aid, that he 
might thoroughly practice that self-denial which he 
deemed an essential qualification in a missionary to 
the heathen." 

Subsequently, when on his way to church, " the 
evangelization of the world burst upon his mind in 
all its beauty and greatness. I longed for a ten- 
fold portion of the Spirit ; I longed to have my body, 
soul and spirit, prepared for arduous labours in the 
vineyard." 

Writing to a relative in Montreal, he says, " I 
know not yet in what field God designed' I should 
labour. My prayer is for the guidance of the Holy 
Spirit. The claims of six hundred millions come 
with irresistible power. How can the heathen hear 
without a preacher ? Who will preach ? Who will 
go ? My heart is drawn out in love to the souls of 
the heathen. My duty, my happiness, my all de- 
pend upon my laying down my life among untu- 
tored savages ; I mean with my present views and 
feelings, if God does not close the door which now 
5* 



54 M E M O I R O F 

seems to stand open. Yet the responsibility makes 
me tremble. One false step may destroy my useful- 
ness forever." 

It was not till near the close of his collegiate stu- 
dies that he made known to his nearest relatives 
how his soul panted for the work of missions. The 
matter was first confided to that sister whose tender 
solicitude and prayers were closely linked with his 
spiritual renovation. She was then on a visit to 
Canada, and had written to her brother an affecting 
account of the moral desolation which exists in that 
region. Mr. Lyman replied : 

." But, dear sister, is there no portion of the world 
destitute but Canada? It makes my soul bleed to 
hear the Macedonian cry from Europe, Asia, and 
Africa. Millions bow to Juggernaut, millions to Mo- 
hammet, millions to the Pope, and millions to the 
sun, moon and stars. Every thirty years seven 
hundred millions sink to perdition from this earth. 
Every day carries some there. Now what shall 
be done 1 

u By divine leave and assistance I will go. The 
pleasure of leading poor heathens to Jesus shall not 
be sacrificed for home, country, or friends." 

That true benevolence urged the subject of this 
memorial to seek the salvation of the heathen, 
appears in part from the great and uniform concern 
which he showed for the salvation of his impeni- 
tent relatives and fellow-students. While at Am- 



HENRY LYMAN. 55 

herst he often wrote to the former in a strain of ten- 
der and earnest expostulation, beseeching them to 
forsake their sins, and striving to portray the excel- 
lence of that Saviour in whom his soul delighted, 
Of four brothers who were then " without God and 
without hope in the world, 5 ? three have since profes- 
sed their faith in Christ. 

His endeavours to reclaim the irreligious members 
of college, were abundant, and were accompanied 
by such evident seriousness and good- will as to 
secure attention from the most thoughtless. The 
slightest appearance of unusual solemnity in col- 
lege he was accustomed to welcome with heartfelt 
gratitude, and made it the occasion of solemn fast- 
ing and prayer. Indeed, he uniformly abounded 
in these spiritual employments, and dealt severely 
with himself whenever they failed to deepen his 
abhorrence of sin and his love to Christ. 

To the several branches of study prescribed in 
college. Mr. Lyman applied himself with zeal and 
success ever after he felt the new motives which 
religion supplies. Till then he seems to have been 
a stranger to those mental exercises and habits which 
are indispensable to thorough scholarship. The 
injury resulting from remissness in the early part 
of his course, it was not the province even of sin- 
cere piety to repair. " When he came to himself," 
he found with deep regret that he had scarcely begun 
to establish those intellectual habits which are pre- 



56 MEMOIR OF 

supposed in the more severe studies that occupy the 
latter half of the college course. 

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to 
every purpose under the heavens." 

Like thousands of other scholars, Mr. Lyman 
found it so respecting the particular under considera- 
tion. In the midst of engagements demanding the 
steady application of a well-trained mind, he con- 
fessed it necessary for him to begin at the beginning. 
Still he struggled against these disadvantages with 
encouraging success, and, as Dr. Humphrey has 
remarked, "he held a respectable standing in his 
class when it graduated," in 1829. ' His theme at 
commencement was " The moral courage of John 
Knox," upon which he dwelt with a spirit and force 
which showed the workings of a soul congenial with 
that of the intrepid reformer. 



HENRY LYMAN, 5T 



CHAPTER IV. 

His Professional Studies at Andover — Attendance on Medical 
Lectures in Boston and Brunswick — Marriage — Receives the 
Instructions of the Board. 

With a keen thirst for useful knowledge and true 
holiness, Mr. Lyman commenced the study of the- 
ology at Andover in the fall of 1829. This impor- 
tant turn in life was accompanied with several sea- 
sons of protracted meditation and prayer. His jour- 
nal is replete with evidence that he u sorrowed after 
a godly sort," in view of his intellectual and spirit- 
ual defects. The deliberate purposes, now formed, 
in reliance on divine aid, were highly conducive to 
the auspicious change which his associates soon 
noticed in some striking points of his character. 

When reminded of some failing, as occasional 
levity, he thankfully received the admonition, and 
forthwith endeavoured to correct the fault. Though 
his profiting appeared to all who had known him 
in college, yet to himself he seemed habitually 
inconsistent and vile. Scarcely a day passed with- 
out his recording some expression of self-abhorrence. 
The smallest portions of life were statedly brought 



58 MEMOIR OF 

under review, always furnishing fresh motives to 
humility, and often yielding delightful evidence that 
the Holy Spirit did leave him to contend alone with 
in-dwelling sin. In the midst of engrossing pro- 
fessional studies, like Paul in his abundant labours, 
Mr, Lyman could say, " One thing I do." He could 
not permit, " no, not for an hour," the enchant- 
ments of sared study or of sccial intercourse, to 
interfere with the claims of personal religion. 

No hours were so precious as those allotted to 
prayer. In this duty, it may be truly said, that 
Mr. Lyman abounded. The fervour, variety and 
earnestness, which appeared in his public devotiona. 
exercises, his brethren, with good reason, ascribec 
to the frequency of his interviews with " Him tha 
seeth in secret. 75 To neglect the closet in a single 
instance was sure to wound his spirit. A train o\ 
uneasy emotions quickly followed, admonishing him 
of the wants of his spiritual life. 

T .ose desires for the salvation of men, which 
characterized the subject of this memorial while in 
college, gained additional strength during his con- 
nexion with the seminary. This is evident from 
the touching appeals found in his correspondence 
with impenitent friends, the assiduity of his labours 
and prayers in behalf of the Sabbath school in which 
he was a teacher, and his ardent intercession for 
the heathen. 

At an ea.ly stage in his theol^ical course, Mr 



HENRY LYMAI?. 59 

Lyman announced to his parents, his determination 
to spend his life in missionary service. A few sen- 
tences only will here be quoted from his letter. 

"Theol. Seminary, Andover, Feb. 10, 1830. 

"Dear Parents, — -I have employed my leisure 
timej the past week, in considering the great ques- 
tion to which I have alluded in former communi- 
cations. I have considered, l He that loveth father 
or mother more than me, is not worthy of me ;.' 'and 
he that taketh not up his cross and followeth after 
me, is not worthy of me.' { He that loveth his life 
shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this 
world shall keep it unto life eternal.' ' How shall 
they call on him in whom they have not believed? 
and how shall they believe in him of whom they 
have not heard ? and how shall they hear without 
a preacher? 

"I have also examined, 1, The moral condition 
of my own country. 2, The condition and pros- 
pects of the heathen. 3, The success of missions — ■ 
and, 4, My own character, talents, and feelings ; and 
I can find nothing in the way of my going to the 
heathen, and there spending my days in building 
up Christ's kingdom.****** 

"If ever I have had any pleasure in contem- 
plating the future, or enlargement in prayer, it has 
been concerning the heathen.***** Indee , my fu- 
ture happiness is dependent upon going to them 
with the news of salvation.****** 



80 MEMOIR OF 

"Perhaps I may meet an early grave; and 
what if I should ? I shall sooner be free from sin, 
and serve God without weariness and without end> 
I hope my parents will not only be willing, but re- 
joice to have me go, if Providence should so order 
it — for I have not only now made myself willing, 
but ready, to go, if the Lord should call me. These 
are the feelings of your affectionate son> 

"Henry Lyman." 

A large share of his meditations and reading 
had special reference to the character and wants of 
unevangelized nations. Respecting the " Condition 
and character of females in pagan and Mohamme- 
dan countries," after much research, he prepared a 
dissertation, the substance of which has gone 
through several editions in the form of a tract. It 
is a heart-rending statement of facts corroborated 
by numerous witnesses of entirely opposite charac* 
ters and professions. Long may it plead the cause 
of the female sex, dishonoured and maddened as 
they are, by oppression and nameless wrongs* 
wherever the gospel is not enjoyed ! 

It is not claimed for Mr. Lyman, that he distin- 
guished himself by theological attainments at An- 
dover, nor that he applied himself with uncommon 
diligence to the appropriate occupations of the Se- 
minary. The unhappy influences of early irregu- 
larities disqualified him, in a measure, for patient 



HENRY LYMAN. 61 

investigation and rigid analysis. Whatever subject 
came before him, his mental operations were ener- 
getic and rapid : had they been under the control 
of a purer taste and a sounder judgment, their re- 
sults would have been far more valuable in them- 
selves, and more properly arranged. It is not 
known, however, that he neglected any branch of 
the prescribed course, while to some subjects of an 
exegetical and doctrinal nature, he devoted an un- 
usual amount of labour. 

Expecting that the employment which he had 
chosen would require him to "endure hardness as 
a good soldier of Jesus Christ," Mr. Lyman accus- 
tomed himself to abstinence and fatigue. As a 
pedestrian he was probably without an equal among 
the sons of Andover. Endowed with almost Her- 
culean strength, and dauntless courage, united with 
glowing benevolence, he longed to enter the region 
of toil, of danger, and wretchedness. 

Having been accepted by the A. B. C. F. M., 
Messrs. Munson and Lyman, in due time, were ap- 
pointed to a field of missionary service, precisely- 
such as their own choice would have selected. Mr, 
Lyman, in particular, often expressed a desire to 
go where no missionary had been sent. 

Having received ordination at Northampton, Oct. 

15th, he pursued the study of medicine at Boston 

and Brunswick, with his accustomed ardour. In the 

mean time, by conversation, letters and preaching, 

6 



62 MEMOIR OP 

he constantly endeavoured to animate the friends 
of missions, and gain additional patrons to the 
cause. 

On the 16th of May, he was married to Miss Eliza 
Pond, of Boston, and after a short visit among his 
friends, returned to receive the Instructions of the 
Board, and set his face towards the Islands of the 
East. 

Mr. Munson and Mr. Lyman were charged, by 
the Prudential Committee, to spend a short time 
in Batavia, thence to proceed, on a tour of observa- 
tion and inquiry, to Pulo Nias, an island west of 
Sumatra. They were next, if possible, to explore 
the northern part of Sumatra, occupied by the 
Battas, a populous nation, so far made known to 
the civilized world, by the narrative of Sir Thomas 
Raffles, as to claim special attention from Christian 
philanthropy. Amboyna, Timor and Borneo, were 
then to be investigated by the missionaries, for the 
purpose of ascertaining whether the way was open 
for Christian teachers, and where would be the most 
eligible locations. 

Near the close of their Instructions, the Commit- 
tee say: 

"You 'go bound in the spirit' to uncongenial 
climes, and distant nations but partially civilized, 
and opposed to the religion of Christ; 'Not know- 
ing the things that shall befell 5 you. c Afflictions, 5 
in different forms, it is most likely, 'abide you.' 



HENRY LYMAN. 63 

Your labours may be soon terminated by death. 
But you have given yourselves to Jesus Christ 
without reserve, for the work of missions among 
the perishing heathen. That work, you know, 
he regards with peculiar favour; for none is so near 
like his own and that of his beloved apostles. He 
has pledged to you, everywhere, and in all circum- 
stances, his special presence, assistance and comfort. 
f Lo, I am with you always.' • My grace is suffi- 
cient for thee.' ' As thy days so shall thy strength 
be.' ' When thou passest through the waters, I 
will be with thee ; and through the rivers they 
shall not overflow thee ; when thou walkest through 
the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the 
flame kindle upon thee : for I, Jehovah, am thy God, 
and the Holy One of Israel thy Saviour.' \ Touch 
not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm,' 
'For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with 
peace; the mountains and hills shall break forth 
before you into singing, and all the trees of the field 
shall clap their hands.' c Be ye faithful unto death, 
and I will give you a crown of life.' What need 
you fear in such a work, with such a Saviour, and 
such promises. May you have hearts filled with 
love to him and his cause, and faith to realize con- 
tinually, his presence and preciousness and power, 
and to trust the wisdom and plenitude and un- 
changeableness of his love." 



84 memoijssof 



CHAPTER V. 

Voyage — Residence is Batavia — Employments— Obtain leave of 
Government to pursue their exploring tour. 

On the 10th of June, 1833, Messrs. Munson and 
Lyman, with their wives, embarked at Boston, on 
board the Duncan, for Batavia. They were ac- 
companied by two other missionaries, destined to 
labour among the Siamese. After uniting in a de- 
votional exercise with the Christian friends who 
attended them to the ship, they calmly bade them 
adieu, and quickly found themselves moving out of 
the harbour. 

At the trying juncture, which had long been an- 
ticipated with dread, they experienced such divine 
support that peace and joy prevailed in the parting 
embrace with their dearest friends. With many of 
their near relatives they confidently expected to meet 
where sorrow and separation shall be no more. 

In a letter to his parents, after noticing the calm- 
ness of his mind, Mr. Lyman says : " There were 
several causes of regret that we were so unexpect- 
edly called to embark, especially as I was thus pre- 
vented from expressing to you, my father and mo- 
ther,, the obligations under which I feel myself laid 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 65 

for your ten thousand kindnesses in all my past 
life. Under God I owe to you my education, my 
character, my salvation. I wished also to ask your 
forgiveness for all the trouble and trials I have wil- 
fully cost you. I wished to ask you to help me 
praise God for his unbounded grace towards me. 
You are not aware how great a sinner your son has 
been, in carousing and profanity, and — but I will 
not enter into particulars. 

" During the whole of my wanderings in forbid- 
den paths, the voice of parental caution and paren- 
tal prayers was not entirely lost. I often com- 
plained, in early life, of your strictness in my edu- 
cation ; now I thank you for it. All the return I 
can make, is to pray for you. The Lord reward 
you a thousand fold." 

The Duncan was a new, fast-sailing ship, with 
ample accommodations, and an obliging captain. 
The passengers, and all concerned, had occasion to 
rejoice that she was fitted out on the principle of en- 
tire abstinence from intoxicating liquors. By the 
aid of this regulation, another, forbidding the use 
of profane language, was easily enforced, to the 
great gratification of the missionaries. 

In twenty-three days they reached the 10th de- 
gree of north latitude ; at that point exchanging 
favourable winds and fine weather for a dead calm 
and a scorching heat. " The burning rays of a 
tropical sun," says Mr. Munson, " the glossy surface 
6* 



66 MEMOIRS OF 

of the ocean, smooth as polished marble, and the 
long, heavy swells that follow each other in slow 
and melancholy procession, are some of the most 
striking characteristics of this region, which stretches 
like a broad belt, entirely over the Atlantic. Along 
this ill-fated region, the i lucre-bitten slaver' and 
pirate prowl with more than savage ferocity. A 
small vessel of peculiar construction, lined with 
arms and ammunition, manacles and instruments of 
torture — thirty or forty monsters of all colours, lan- 
guages and nations, as though such a mass of pollu- 
tion could not be gathered from the sweepings of 
one kingdom — these constitute what seamen call 
a l slaver,' or c pirate.' At one time we supposed our- 
selves in great danger of an attack. A small sail 
was discovered ahead, which was soon recognized 
as a slaver. They appeared to be making directly 
towards us. To flee was impossible. All hands 
were called, — our carronades, muskets and pistols 
were charged. After an half-hour's anxious sus- 
pense, we saw them cross our bows and bear 
away, as we supposed, to the West Indies. I shall 
never forget the appearance of their vessel, — black 
hull, black spars, and black masts — fit emblem of 
their moral character." 

Under date of July 12th, Mr. Munson describes 
himself as greatly reduced by sickness, and medita- 
ting, with unutterable delight, u on that better coun- 
try where the homeless exile is received into his 



M U N S O N AND LYMAN. 67 

Father's house." "I have not much expectation 
that my trials on earth are soon to terminate ; yet 
it is consoling to look forward to the time when , 
through the mercy of God, I shall sing the praise 
of redeeming love." M. 

From conversation with the Captain, Mr. Lyman 
understood that no obstacles would be thrown in 
the way of any efforts which the brethren might be 
disposed to make for the spiritual good of the sai- 
lors. Stated religious services were accordingly held 
during the voyage, and the crew were often urged 
individually, to set their "affections on things 
above." When the "sea shall give up the dead 
that are in it," these labours may be found to have 
been instrumental of saving at least one "sinner 
from the error of his ways." 

July 17th, Mr. Munson wrote to his sister; "The 
Lord willing, my dear sister, we shall cross the 
Equator to-morrow morning. The north star has 
already disappeared. I looked for it to-night, but it 
was buried beneath the mists that encircled the ho- 
rizon, and I shall see it no more. So one thing 
after another that reminds me of my country and 
friends, drops off. I sometimes almost wish I could 
have that pensive, melancholy state of feeling, 
which such events are calculated to produce ; but 
it is not so. To tell you the truth, my heart beats 
with all those cheerful and warm emotions which I 
should feel were I returning home after a long ab- 



US MEMOIRS OF 

sence. Home ! I am going to the home my heart 
has most ardently desired to see for many years. 
Could the statesman say, c Where liberty dwells ? 
there is my country? 5 With equal ardour can I 
say, where the field of uesfulness is, there is my 
country, my home ; I desire no other." M. 

Mr. Munson's journal contains a striking notice 
of a brilliant exhibition in the torrid zone, origina- 
ting from myriads of small animals. 

" Two or three things seem to be prerequisite to 
a good display of their remarkable qualities. The 
night must be dark ; there must be wind enough 
to blow the surface of the ocean into a foam, and 
other circumstances not well understood. The ap- 
pearances that sometimes present themselves, I am 
utterly unable to describe. Every wave that breaks 
seems to be a wave of fire : and the light is so 
vivid as to enable one to read a printed book. The 
course of the fish that move many feet, and perhaps 
many fathoms, beneath the surface, can be distinctly 
traced by the luminous wake they leave behind. 
Several nights, in succession, we were greatly 
amused by the porpoises that played around our 
ship. In their rapid evolutions, each one left a 
serpentine trail of light, which I could compare to 
nothing but an immense fiery serpent. 

" The most curious and splendid illumination of 
this kind, which we witnessed, was reserved till 
near the close of the voyage. At four o'clock in 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 09 

the morning the officer on watch observed that the 
water assumed a milky appearance. He supposed 
we were passing over a coral reef. The Captain 
was called, and the lead was thrown, but we found 
no soundings. Any one who has seen a pond 
covered with ice and snow has had an exact repre- 
sentation of the appearance of the ocean, as far as 
the eye could reach. On examining the water, I 
found it to be full of illuminated lines or strings, so 
minute as not to be distinguished when brought to 
the light ; but by the help of the microscope, in the 
dark, each line was found to consist of illuminated 
points, united by a transparent jelly. A more 
thorough examination showed that each line was a 
chain consisting of animals linked together. When 
a very large one was minutely divided, each division 
continued to pulsate till life was extinct." M. 

After leaving the torrid zone, the Duncan passed 
rapidly round the Cape, to the 40th degree of south 
latitude, thence directing her course towards the In- 
dian Ocean. With the exception of Mr. Lyman 
and Mr. Robinson, the passengers suffered severely 
from sea-sickness, so that Mr. Munson found him- 
self disqualified, during almost the entire voyage, for 
those intellectual efforts which he designed to make 
on the passage. 

Addressing his sister, from the 17th degree of south 
latitude, Mr. Munson says : " You will see by our 
position, that we are near our destined port. I need 



70 MEMOIRS OF 

not tell you that expectation is wide awake. In 
two days more we hope to see land." Under the 
next date, they were so near land that they could 
distinctly see the palm trees that lined the shore. 
The first group of heathens that came in sight, 
touched their hearts, and gave fresh energy to those 
pious affections which at first led them to seek the 
missionary service. 

"It was the answer of my prayers for the last 
ten years," says Mr. M. ; "I trust some of our 
number have already lifted their hearts to God for 
the salvation of these poor Islanders. It was pecu- 
liarly pleasant to remember them in our social 
prayers." M. 

After being one hundred days at sea, they were 
brought within sight of " Java JHead ;" and three or 
four days from that time, landed at Batavia. 

On the arrival of the missionaries, Rev. Mr. Med- 
hurst, of the London Missionary Society, extended 
to them a cordial welcome, accompanied with an 
invitation to take rooms in his house, and sit at his 
table. Until a house could be procured, they availed 
themselves of this kindness, and subsequently expe- 
rienced repeated proofs of the sincerity with which 
it was offered. The hired house, into which they 
soon removed, was about four miles from the city, 
on the corner of the " King's Plain," a beautiful level, 
half a mile square. " Ours, with nearly all the 
houses in Batavia, is of one story. It stands on the 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 71 

street that encircles the plain, with bamboo, cotton, 
coffee, cocoa-nut and cinnamon trees growing around 
it. Some beautiful coffee plants are just under our 
window. We cannot do as we would in our native 
land. All our work must be done by servants. Eu- 
ropeans cannot endure labour in this climate. If we 
wish to go a mile in the middle of the day we must 
ride, and indeed to travel a few miles on foot at any 
time would probably bring on a fever that might 
prove fatal. We can sit and study, and do such 
work as requires no physical effort. At present it is 
quite healthy in the city. We are happy and con- 
tented in our work. It is our daily prayer that we 
may be spared to labour long among the heathen. 

"As yet we have seen but few exhibitions of 
pagan worship. A few days since the Chinese had 
a festival in honor of some Saint. The image was 
placed on an elevated table ; before it were burning 
some very large red candles. Fifteen or twenty 
individuals were on their knees, and a priest was 
reading prayers. I laboured, while a member of the 
seminary, to form a just idea of pagan worship ; but 
after all, I must say, idolatry is idolatry, and to 
form any idea of it, we must see its rites and cere- 
monies, the exceeding stupidity and degradation of 
the human mind, and the insult offered to the God 
of glory. I do not wonder that the primitive Chris- 
tians, in the heat of their zeal, pulled down heathea 



72 MEMOIRS OF 

temples, and demolished their idols, and that, too, at 
the expense of their lives. 

" A door of usefulness for us is every day opening 
wider and wider. A few years since a Chinese or 
a Malay, would not receive a tract, — now they 
eagerly stretch out their hands for them. I have 
been out with Mr. Medhurst several mornings to 
converse and distribute tracts. We have uniformly 
met with good treatment, and not unfrequently have 
returned without a single tract left. 

" Our opportunities for doing good are very great, 
and there is no want of encouragement to labour. 
We hardly find time to think of home. I have 
friends in N. S. that I tenderly love ; but I should 
be very miserable to be with them and know that 
these poor creatures were perishing without the least 
ray of divine light. The labour to which we are 
called is hard, the weather is hot, and we are sub- 
jected to a thousand inconveniences; yet we are 
happy." M. 

Not long after their arrival serious fears were 
entertained that Mrs. Lyman would speedily sink 
under an affection of the lungs. 

" The hurried journey, the voyage, the sea-sick- 
ness which lasted, more or less, the whole way, 
were too much for her. At present she spits more 
or less blood from her lungs, and I should not be 
surprised if she were not to continue many months. 
The will of the Lord be done !" L. 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 73 

The alarming symptoms, however, by the divine 
blessing, yielded to medical skill, and mourning was 
turned into gladness. But Mr. Lu was soon taught 
to " rejoice with trembling." Almost the first let- 
ters from America informed him of the death of his 
father. It had not entered his heart that on com- 
mencing his labours among the heathen, he would be 
admonished by such an affecting providence to be 
diligent and finish the work given him to do. Pierc- 
ed with sorrow, and trembling under the divine 
frown, he was constrained to " pray without ceas- 
ing." Prayer had yielded the richest happiness he 
had known when free from outward affliction, and 
now in time of need it led him to a M refuge and 
strength, a very present help." 

In the first letter addressed to his mother after he 
was apprised of the desolating blow, having first of 
all reminded her of " the grace of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, and the love of God," he says, — " Is it pos- 
sible that I must now pray for the widow and father- 
les s? There it is on paper ; I cannot be mistaken ; 
it is even so. But, beloved mother, I weep not that 
one of our family has gone home to rest. If it were 
not wicked to wish otherwise than God has ordained, 
I should wish we were all with him, we so much 
loved uniting in that unending anthem. I weep, 
however, and weep bitterly, as I think of those who 
are left behind. For once I wished myself at home. 
I felt distressed that I could not have been there at 
7 



74 MEMOIRS OF 

the time. I then found how good was prayer. E. 
and I knelt at the throne of grace, and commended 
you to the care of Him who has promised to be the 
widow's God and the father of the fatherless. We 
remembered the promises ; they were sweet. 

" In his last moments, how did father look upon 
all the self-denials he had made to prepare me for 
the work upon which the Lord has permitted me 
to enter? They were many and great. I bless 
God, yea, I would magnify his name forever and 
ever, that I have been permitted to pray for so long 
a time that he might be prepared for his final 
change." L. 

Agreeably to their instructions, the missionaries 
began immediately to acquire the Malay language. 
After a short time Mr. Munson commenced the study 
of Chinese. 

" Besides the study of the languages, we have, 
with the help of Mr. Medhurst, set up a dispensary 
in town, to which all who choose to accept our ser- 
vices gratis, come and receive medicines. We visit 
this three times a week. I went down on Saturday 
morning and found a most wretched set of mortals ; 
some with ulcers, some with asthma, others with 
dropsy, &c. ; to all of them Mr. Medhurst and I 
attended as well as we could. We gave them medi- 
cines for the body and also medicines for the soul. 
We always go with tracts and portions of scripture, 
which many of them receive with gratitude. Be- 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 75 

sides these, we have patients come to our house 
almost every day. It is, however, a great per- 
plexity ; it keeps us almost constantly consulting 
medical books." M. 

" Nov. 28. — Last week I visited a native market, 
twenty miles from Batavia. We took each a bundle 
of books, Chinese and Maly, and went into the crowd. 

" The native markets are composed of rows of 
small shops, with only a foot-path between them. 
The crowd, the heat, and the odour are very annoy- 
ing. Mr. Medhurst preached, or rather talked all 
the way as we went ; whenever he stopped a crowd 
would collect, and while he talked to them, I gave 
books to such as could read. We carried up two 
hundred tracts, and in two hours every leaf was 
gone. 

" In the course of our walk we halted at a Chi- 
nese temple. These ate exceedingly common in 
Batavia. The largest is connected with the Chi- 
nese burying-ground. It contains three immense 
idols, and a host of smaller ones. The burying- 
ground of the Chinese is a great curiosity. Just in 
the passage that leads to it is the great temple. 
Some graves occupy scarcely less than a quarter of 
an acre. They are immense mounds, forty or fifty- 
feet high, appearing like large family tombs in Ame- 
rica. It is not the ties of relationship that prompt 
these expensive burials ; but the hope of gain ! 
The tomb of a deceased relative is the " hong 



76 MEMOIESOF 

chung" of the survivor ; i. e. literally, it is his "wind 
and water," or in plain English, it is his luck. In 
proportion as the son expends money on the tomb 
of his father, he expects to acquire wealth." M. 

Their communications to friends and patrons in 
this country, show that Messrs. Munson and Lyman 
gave themselves wholly to their work in Batavia, 
at no time forgetful of the great and sacred trust 
committed to their hands* The following extract 
is from a letter to the A. M. S. of Barnstable county : 

" It is a blessed work, and I wish to bind myself 
to it by every cord that can entwine itself around a 
moral being. Every day that I look at the great 
enterprise before me, it appears greater and more 
glorious, and my prayer is that it may go on 
increasing in magnitude and splendour, till it shall 
fill the whole horizon of my moral vision ; so that 
I shall see and feel, and be warmed and fired by no- 
thing else. Time will not permit me to state par- 
ticulars, but be assured I never felt more confident 
of the final and speedy success of the gospel. The 
obstacles which the church will have to encounter in 
preaching the gospel here are many ; the enemies 
that oppose are numerous and formidable ; yet in 
the name of the Lord we shall conquer. c They 
that are for us are more than they that be against 
us.' But, dear brethren, what we do let us do 
quickly. { Behold I come quickly,' says the Lord 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 77 

of the harvest, c and my reward is with me.' Even 
so, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." M. 

Addressing Rev. Mr. Stearns, of Bedford, Mass., 
Mr. Munson says: 

"I am aware that much has been written re- 
specting this island — enough, it would seem, en- 
tirely to exhaust the subject. Yet the Christian 
community are quite as ignorant of the moral con- 
dition of these Islanders, as they were a century 
ago. The reason of this is obvious. Those who 
have written have not directed their inquiries 
towards this, of all others, the most important point. 
Some have been intent on gain. Such inquire 
only into the resources of the island. Others, still, 
have burned with the desire of conquest, of rule 
and oppression. Such number the population, in- 
quire into the strength and resources of the native 
Princes, and cast around the anxious look for 
means to carry their unholy schemes into execu- 
tion. For two hundred years the natives have in- 
discriminately been made the sport of avarice and 
ambition; — the objects of oppression, and the in- 
struments of gain to foreign conquerors. — Con- 
querors too, who have denominated themselves 
Christians ! 

" But who among the long catalogue of Chris- 
tians, who have successively visited these islands, 
has cared for the souls of the natives ? Who has 
wept in secret over their miseries, and cast around 
7* 



78 MEMOIRS OF 

him the anxious and sympathizing inquiries of the 
Christian philanthropist ? Who has spread out 
their wants before the Christian world, and im- 
plored help in delivering from their degradation, 
their moral bondage, and in elevating them to the 
exalted privileges of the sons of God? I might 
almost answer — not one. 

"It is true, that one ostensible object of these 
Christian conquerors has been, to propagate the 
gospel. But let us see their zeal for the Lord — let 
the result of their labours bear witness. 

" The moral aspect of this island, so far as I have 
the means of judging, is far more favourable than 
we might expect. The Malays, who embraced the 
religion of the false prophet earlier than any other 
people this side of Bengal, and who have ever been 
considered the bulwark of Mohammedanism in 
this quarter, are neither so bigoted, nor so preju- 
diced against Christianity as most accounts would 
lead us to expect. Even the prejudices that may 
remain are fast dwindling away. I have never 
seen a Malay refuse a tract, even though he knew 
it to contain the outlines of Christianity. I have 
assisted in the distribution of hundreds of books 
among them : — many were received with apparent 
gratitude, and I doubt not were perused with be- 
coming seriousness and attention. Indeed, Mr. 
Medhurst assures me, that he has known them 
spend the whole night with their priests in the 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 79 

discussion of questions originating from the reading 
of Christian books. This is an interesting trait in 
their character, and may yet turn out greatly to the 
furtherance of the gospel. I am fully convinced, 
that were some Samson to lay hold of the main 
pillars of Mohammedanism, and in the spirit of 
the gospel, uncover its appalling deformities and in- 
consistencies ; such a work, with the blessing of 
God, would go far to dissipate the spell that now 
holds men in iron bondage. Such an experiment 
is about to be made. The tract is now in press. 
Our prayer is, that it may be mighty through God, 
in pulling down this strong-hold of Satan." 

The following, from a communication to John 
Tappan, Esq., Boston, shows that the mortality 
among Europeans in the East Indies, should not 
be altogether ascribed to the climate : 

" My heart is sick with seeing the glass filled and 
emptied before breakfast, with breakfast, at eleven 
o'clock, before dinner, with dinner, and continually 
after till bed-time. Wherever I have been in India, 
wine is placed on the table in the morning ; when 
the table is cleared away, the decanter-stand of 
strong drink makes its appearance ; with dinner, 
wine and beer are like water, in abundance, and 
after dinner the strong drink again. I believe the 
quantity consumed is diminishing, but still it is 
terrible. Formerly it was so pernicious in its effects, 
at Padang, that it obtained the Malay name of Pa- 



80 MEMOIRS OF 

koe, (nail,) because, the people said, l It drove one 
more nail into a man's coffin.' You might hear 
them call to their servants, i Bring me the red nail ;' 
or, < Bring me the white nail.' Mr. Vangrale, of 
Beucooleu, told me, that when he came to India, 
twenty years since, the young men, when warm 
with wine, would go out, fasten weights to the legs 
of the table and the chairs, and sink them in the 
canal ; then sit in the water till day-light, drinking. 

"The influence of the American Temperance 
Society has been felt here. A spark has been kin- 
dled that ought to be fanned into a flame. I dined 
and spent some time with the Governor General, 
(Bonde,) and almost all the time I could spare from 
my Missionary business, was employed by him in 
making inquiries concerning the temperance move- 
ments in the United States. In every place where 
I have not introduced the subject, the people have, 
Our temperance ships, and temperance captains, and 
supercargoes, have done wonders." L. 

Besides preaching, when opportunities occurred, 
on board the ships in the roads, the brethren occa- 
sionally relieved Mr. Medhurst in the stated services 
of his chapel. Conformably to their instructions, 
they devoted themselves chiefly to those languages 
in which it was their hearts' desire and prayer to 
God that they might proclaim the gospel to millions 
among whom Christ had not been named. In 
these pursuits, from which few striking incidents 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 81 

could be expected to arise, they spent the fall and 
winter. 

On the twenty-seventh of February, Mr. Mun- 
son found himself, for the first time, exercised with 
parental affection, by the birth of a son. In a let- 
ter to the parents of Mrs. M., after informing them, 
in a tender strain, of the joyful event, he proceeds : 

" We hope and pray that the Spirit of God will 
prepare his heart for the work of a missionary. We 
desire for him no more honourable employment, 
nor any greater emolument than will accrue to him 
from labouring faithfully for the salvation of the 
heathen." He adds; "Our employments are the 
same as when we last wrote. We are daily trying 
to acquire a knowledge of these strange tongues. 
Our progress is slow, but we hope, ere long, to be 
able to say something to the heathen in their own 
language, about Jesus Christ and the great salva- 
tion. 

" Our sphere of action as physicians, might be 
enlarged to any extent. Indeed it is already ex- 
tended too far. I feel my time seriously encroached 
upon. But what can we do? They come to us 
loaded with disease, or perhaps they come to inter- 
cede with us in behalf of their sick and dying 
friends ; and we cannot close our ears. I hope the 
Lord is in this way enabling us to speak effectually 
to them by our actions, before \ve can do it by our 
words. 



82 MEMOIRS OF 

"We are preparing for our departure to Neas and 
Sumatra. The Lord willing, we shall embark 
in about one week." M. 

Such are the regulations of the Dutch Govern- 
ment in the Netherlands, in regard to India, that the 
missionaries could not prosecute their undertaking 
without permission from the Governor and Council. 
In a joint communication to Rev. R. Anderson, 
Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M., they describe the 
measures taken to effect this object. 

"Batavia, April 5th, 1834. 

" Dear Sir, — ******We have as yet communica- 
ted nothing in respect to our intercourse with 
Government, that we might give the whole at 
one time. 

" About the middle of December, Mr. Munson's 
health being such that a little recreation seemed ne- 
cessary, the opportunity was improved to make a 
journey to Buitenzorg, the Governor's residence, 
about forty miles interior. His Excellency the 
Commissary General, Van der Bosch, and his Ex- 
cellency the Governor General, ad interim, Bonde, 
both expressed themselves favourably disposed 
towards the establishment of a mission in Puloe, 
Nias, and in the same breath advised to the estab- 
lishment of a mission in the Batta country of Su- 
matra. As, however, we could not be permitted to 
reside in Batavia, or travel in other islands without 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 83 

liberty, granted by the Governor General in council 
assembled, the following petition was prepared and 
forwarded to his Excellency, near the close of De- 
cember last." 

The petition, after exhibiting the object and lead- 
ing operations of the A. B. C. F. M., proceeds : 

" The smiles of Providence upon their exertions in 
other parts of the world, and the command of our 
Saviour, c Go ye into all the world and preach my 
gospel to every creature,' make them desirous of 
benefitting their degraded fellow-men among these 
islands, as well as the neighbouring continental 
countries. A glance at their history, [referring to 
the Board of Missions,] will show that as they have 
hitherto not interfered with politics or the operations 
of other benevolent societies ; upon this principle 
they wish still to proceed. They have accordingly 
sent your petitioners hither for the purpose of ex- 
ploring those places not pre-occupied by other bene- 
volent societies. Their instructions are, that we 
proceed first to Nias, then to the Battas of Sumatra, 
then to the interior of Borneo, to fix upon the most 
eligible locations for other missionaries, whom they 
intend immediately to send hither to occupy those 
fields of labour. 

" The importance of rescuing the souls of these 
heathen from the consequences of idolatry and 
vice, to which they are addicted, and putting into 
their hands the word of God, which points out 



84 MEMOIRS OF 

the way of salvation , will of course commend our 
object to the favourable regard of his Excellency in 
council assembled." 

" The long delay of an answer to this petition 
caused us,*' say they, " many an anxious thought, 
and many an earnest prayer, although we could 
conceive of no possible motive that could influence 
his Excellency to negative the request. In an in- 
terview with the Governor General, about four 
weeks since, he informed us that the petition 
received immediate attention, and was forthwith 
handed over to the Committee on Ecclesiastical Af- 
fairs, of which Rev. Mr. Lenting was President. 
On inquiry, Mr. Lenting regretted that it was so, 
but he had unfortunately mislaid the petition, and 
begged for another copy. As soon as more stamped 
paper could be procured, and a person to translate 
the petition, a duplicate was placed in his hands. 
Three weeks more passed. The time of our de- 
parture drew near. Another journey to Buitenzorg 
was deemed necessary. Although, on our arrival, the 
petition was found to be at Batavia, yet the journey 
was not regretted, inasmuch as it afforded an oppor- 
tunity for a free, social interview with his Excel- 
lency." 

After stating several particulars in which the 
Governor expressed himself kindly, in regard to the 
work of missions, they add : 

"From this it must be apparent, that the present 



M 17 N S 'O N AND LYMAN. 85 

governor, ad interim, is favourable to the cause of 
benevolence ; and while he is in office the opportu- 
nity ought to be secured of sending out men and 
laying a broad foundation for further operations. 

"In short, the smiles of Almighty God on our 
operations thus far, and the encouraging prospects 
for the future, demand our thanksgiving and 
praise, and renewed diligence on our part, to im- 
prove the talent and discharge the responsibilities 
committed to us. "While we call to mind the pro- 
mise, 'As thy days so shall thy strength be,' we 
would not forget the diligence in business and fer- 
vency of spirit that become us ; and that we may 
have them in a still greater degree, we request 
that you will remember us at the throne of 
grace. Your missionaries, 

"Henry Lyman, 
"Samuel Munson." 

Having at length secured the requisite papers 
from government, the brethren soon completed their 
preparations for leaving Batavia. 

During their residence in that city, they enjoyed 
the invaluable counsels and aid of Rev. Mr. Med- 
hurst; and besides the study of Malay and Chi- 
nese, they accustomed themselves, as we have seen, 
to a variety of labours, specially suitable for those 
who would " Endure hardness as good soldiers." 

On the Sabbath previous to their taking leave of 
8 



86 MEMOIRS OF 

their families, they were permitted to renew their 
strength, and " receive an unction from the Holy 
One," at the table of their Lord. 

The whole number of communicants on that 
affecting occasion, was fifteen. Mr. Medhurst and 
the two missionaries, who were " ready to depart on 
the morrow," united in conducting the solemnity. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Munson the day was rendered 
memorable by the baptism of their infant son, the 
only American child ever born on the island of 
Java. As they retired from the chapel, Mr. Mun- 
son signified to his wife that he had but a faint ex- 
pectation of meeting her again at the table of Christ. 
It was strongly impressed on his mind that in a 
few hours he should bid her and the little one a 
final adieu. But "none of these things moved" 
him. "He steadfastly set his face to go" towards 
the field of new toil and danger, because the voice 
of duty summoned him away. 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 87 



CHAPTER VI. 

Journal of Messrs. Munson and Lyman, on their tour of obser- 
ration and inquiry among the islands lying west of Sumatra. 

Fit^ivi the separate journals of the missionaries 
after leaving Batavia, such portions have been select- 
ed for the present chapter as comprise a continuous 
narrative of observations and facts, with the leading 
suggestions to which they gave rise. 

It is the design of the present chapter to furnish, 
by means of extracts from their journal, a continu- 
ous narrative of the missionaries' travels and obser- 
vations, from the time of their leaving Batavia till 
their arrival at Tappanooly, on the Island of Su- 
matra. 

"April 7. — Embarked onboard the Diedericka, 
Capt. Townsendj for Padang. In looking forward 
to this time, I have had many anxious forebodings ; 
but the Lord happily brought me to a full and entire 
acquiescence in his will. I thought I could say with 
all my heart, if I must return and find my wife in 
the grave, i thy will be done ; ' or, if I must be 
sacrificed to the passions of untamed men, or the 
more unyielding ferocity of untamed beasts, 'Even 
so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight, 5 



88 MEMOIRS OF 

shall be my language. Still hope has not deserted 
me. I had not rode a mile towards the ship, before 
I began to say to myself, 4 Well, only six months 
more and I hope again to see those I love.' 

" To separate from one's family in the midst of a 
heathen country, and to plunge still further into the 
depths of heathenism^ is quite another thing from 
leaving home to enter upon a foreign mission. Still 
the same great God can and will protect. 

" Our barque, which carries only 250 tons, though 
having much deck room, presents quite a Babelic 
scene. There are American, Indian, and Dutch 
passengers, besides soldiers, European, native, Ben- 
galees and Malays. 

" The languages spoken by these ninety souls, are 
twelve in number ; viz : English, French, Dutch, 
Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Bengalee, Moor, Java- 
nese, Malay, Chinese, and Nyas ; while there is 
scarcely an individual on board who does not under- 
stand more or less of Malay." L. 

" April 8. — To-day we have been gently, though 
rapidly pursuing our passage through the straits of 
Sunda. Recognized many islands and points of 
land, which we saw when passing the straits months 
ago. The coast of Java is much changed ; then 
it was parched and burned by a four months' 
drought ; now it is clothed in the richest verdure. 

M April 9. — This morning the last vestiges of the 
coast of Java were fast disappearing. On our left 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 89 

was the immeasurable expanse, and on our right 
the coast of Sumatra. With the exception of a 
few hills, the coast seemed low and marshy. It is 
inhabited by the Lampongs, Mohammedans by pro - 
fession ; but miserable disciples of the false prophet. 

" About noon we had the rare satisfaction of wit- 
nessing the original of one of Stewart's most beauti- 
tiful pictures ; I mean a i dying dolphin. 5 The dol- 
phin is surely the most gaudy fish that inhabits the 
ocean. His natural colour is exquisitely beautiful ; 
but to describe all the tints and shades he puts on in 
the agonies of death, would exhaust the resources of 
the most scientific and accomplished painter. The 
mode of taking them is very curious and simple. 
A body is made of wax ; to this wings made of 
feathers are attached, so as exactly to resemble the 
flying fish. This is fastened to a hook and thrown 
into the water, when it is immediately seized by the 
dolphin as his favorite morsel. But, alas, the hook ! 
By that he is deceived and taken." M. 

" April 11. — To-day and yesterday have been read- 
ing Lander's Expedition to Africa. I could not but 
reflect if these men were willing to undergo so much 
for the sake of benefiting science and obtaining 
their wages, shall I shrink back when my object is 
to benefit the soul for time and eternity ? No, no. 
Blessed be God, if I may be counted worthy to suf- 
fer for his name. If I am never permitted to return 
and reap the reward of my labours here, by seeing 
8* 



90 MEMOIESOJ 

the kingdom of God established among these peo- 
ple to whom 1 am sent, while in this world, yet I 
know in whom I have trusted, and in eternity all 
will be made right. 

" Our passengers consist of a lieutenant in the 
Dutch service 7 a French Catholic infidel, and a 
young man in the employment of government. 

" We had this evening quite an interesting dis- 
cussion. Th e lieutenant had read Yoltaire ten 
times, but not once the Bible ; because he was not 
allowed to by the priests. With him it was ' all a 
he,' l on the same level with the Koran,' &c. He is 
very much of a gentleman, and stated his objections 
with a great deal of apparent honesty. I endeavoured 
to answer them at some length, although I regret- 
ted that my limited knowledge of Malay, in which 
language only we can converse, prevented my pre- 
senting the arguments as clearly as I could wish. 

" But the most convincing argument in favour of 
the Holy Scriptures, being what they profess to be, 
and those which I have often found most successful 
with sceptics in New England, was the incompara- 
ble excellence of its doctrines and precepts ; its ten- 
dency to make society better ; the lives of those 
who adhere most closely to its precepts, particularly 
as manifested in their benevolence." L. 

" April 13. — Last night the clouds cleared away 
and gave us a fair view of the Sumatran coast. 
This morning the mountains, trees, and fields are all 



MUN90N AND LYMAN. 91 

in sight. Last night the captain told us of a nar- 
row escape from assassination. (See Singapore 
Chronicle, for January, 1831.) It is not a matter of 
surprise that so many officers are murdered by their 
men. The crews of these country ships are liter- 
ally collected from the four winds of heaven. The 
officers are Europeans, but the sailors, which are 
three times as numerous as thos3 cf American ships, 
are gathered from every nation and tribe in the 
East. A crew of thirty men usually speak not less 
than a dozen languages. 

" They are indolent in the extreme. No depen- 
dence can be placed on them when their help is 
most needed. The consequence is, the officers beat 
them without mercy, and some of them, especially 
the Manilla men, take revenge by murder. Many 
times in a year this mournful tragedy is acted over 
in one or more of the country ships. 

" Not a day \ as passed sines our embarkation, in 
which I have not witnessed repeated instances of 
these unmerciful peltings. One morning I heard 
the boatswain, whose station is always in the fore- 
castle, chastising a Bengalee sailor. The delin- 
quent retired abaft out of his reach. The captain, 
observing this, stepped down from the poop, and 
struck him several times on the head and back, 
then kicked him flat upon the deck. This brought 
him again within the jurisdiction of the boatswain, 
who gave him a warm reception with the butt end 



92 MEMOIRS OF 

of a bamboo. He drove the poor wretch forward, and 
concluded by giving him the rope's end ! Yet I was 
assured by a fellow-passenger, who is well acquaint- 
ed with the treatment which these sailors receive, 
that the crew of this ship are comparatively treated 
with great humanity and forbearance ! I could 
not but ask, if this is humanity, what is cruelty? 

" April 19. — I shall not soon forget my first intro- 
duction to Sumatra. We anchored in Pulo Bay at 
two o'clock. The captain resolved to land and go 
in search of an Englishman, who resided at the head 
of the bay. The captain, a Dutch officer, a civil 
servant of the company, and myself, formed the 
party. We were three miles from the shore. It 
came on to blow fresh after we started, and the spray 
beat over us at every stroke of the oar. We soon 
found it impossible to advance or return. Our only 
alternative was to let the boat run before the wind, 
and land on the lee shore, where the surf looked 
truly formidable. The boat struck some distance 
from the shore. The oar-men leaped out, up to 
their necks in water, and finally succeeded in draw- 
ing us into a small creek, where, after being tho- 
roughly wet, I first set my foot on Sumatra. We 
went in search of the Englishman, but found to our 
mortification, that he had removed to Bencoolen. 

u We found a family of Malays in his house, who, 
at our solicitation, prepared supper, for it was not 
practicable to return to the ship. They served up 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 93 

currie and rice for us ; knives, forks, and spoons were 
out of the question. We were therefore compelled 
to resort to the Malay method of eating, with our 
fingers. 

" The rest of the company having been longer in 
the country, succeeded well ; but I could not acquire 
the necessary sleight of hand. Fortunately, I had 
been amusing myself with conchology, by collecting 
a few shells on the beach. So, taking the half a 
bivalve, I finished my supper without further diffi- 
culty." M. 

"Ill health prevented my visiting the shore in 
company with Brother Munson, the captain, and 
others. 

"Had conversation with one of the Portuguese 
helmsmen, who is from Goa, and speaks a little 
broken English. He appeared a very wicked, hard- 
ened man. When I spoke of the way of salvation, 
he replied with a contemptuously emphatic, and hard- 
hearted sneer, c God Almighty make man ; make 
torment ; put him in always ! I poor man ; I 
troubled in all the world, and when make dead, I 
go to hell ! J And he shook his head and turned 
away, expressing by his actions, i It is a hard say- 
ing, who can bear it V When I urged the subject 
still further, and endeavored to explain the govern- 
ment of God, he turned and walked away with such 
an expression of cold, settled hatred to the gospel* 
that it seemed like throwing pearls before swine. 



94 MEMOIRS OP 

" Went on shore to see if any missionary labour 
could be done. 

" April 20. — The Buffalo-carts, in use among the 
people here, are of a peculiar construction ; the 
wheels solid, about three feet in diameter, and 
the cart raised upon a frame upon the axletree 
about twelve inches above the tops of the wheels. 
Their tops covered with mats, with a roof like a 
house, except that the ridge-pole bends in from the 
ends, the front peak being higher by a few inches 
than that behind. There was no other way of 
egress and ingress than by a small door in front. I 
should judge them to be three feet wide, by five 
long, designed for one buffalo. 

" I have before heard of velvet lawns, and mea- 
dows of velvet softness ; but never saw one before to- 
day. The grass was not far from three inches in 
height, and without exaggeration, more than twice 
as fine, and four times as thick as I ever saw in the 
most cultivated and richly-dressed door-yard in New 
England. The most elastic Turkey carpet I ever 
walked upon, did not appear more soft and agree- 
able." L. 

"April 21. — At six o'clock landed at a small vil- 
lage of fishermen. At ten o'clock, a horse and 
buggy having been sent from Bencoolen, we set off 
for that place. 

"April 22. — Went this morning to examine a 
small plantation of spices. The nut-meg, (hux 



M U N S O N AND LYMAN. 95 

myristica,) tree very much resembles the apple tree, 
though the branches are nearly horizontal, and the 
top more acuminated. The male tree seldom bears 
any thing but flowers ; on the female tree may be 
seen the blossom, the green and ripe fruit at the 
same time. The fruit is much like the peach in 
shape, size, and appearance. When ripe the fruit 
bursts and exposes the nut-meg partially covered 
with the red mace. The produce of an acre differs 
not much from two pikuls (266| lbs.) per annum. 

" The clove tree (lary ophulus aromaticus) is one 
of the most elegant productions of nature. In size 
and shape it is not much unlike the common cherry 
tree. The germ of the blossom is, when gathered 
and cured, the clove of commerce ; if permitted to 
blossom, it becomes the c mother clove.' The flower 
is of all others the most exquisite in scent. It is 
a perfect combination of all that is spicy, fragrant, 
and pleasing to the senses. 

" The produce of the clove is about 328 lbs. per 
acre. The clove and nut-meg were introduced into 
Bencoolen from the Moluccas in 1798, by Broff. 
Since that period the cultivation has been gradually 
extending. The natives are now eagerly inquiring 
after the plant, and carrying it into the interior. 
This valuable article of commerce promises to be 
widely cultivated, even in Sumatra. 

"Called on the { assistant resident,' and obtained 
permission to distribute a few tracts among the 



96 Memoirs of 

Chinese, of whom there were about 500 in Bencoo- 
len. Went out with a small supply which I 
brought from the ship, and before I had proceeded 
half through the village, I had not a tract left. 
Tried to say something to them about Jesus Christ, 
of whom they are always ready to hear. Met with 
one Chinaman who could speak English. I re- 
turned to my lodgings and procured for him an 
English Testament, for which he seemed very 
grateful. I left him with the promise that he 
would read it every day. The Lord grant that it 
may prove a light to his feet, to guide him in the 
way of salvation. 

" The Malay population of Bencoolen is not far 
from 5000. There are, also, fifteen or twenty 
Europeans. Went in and examined l Fort Marl- 
borough.' It is a noble monument of English 
skill and industry. Perhaps it is the best fort now 
in possession of the Dutch in the East. 

"Bencoolen holds out many encouragements to 
missionary effort ; at least were an active missionary 
occasionally to visit the place for the purpose of cir- 
culating books among the Malays and Chinese, his 
labours might be attended with the happiest 
effects." M. 

" The town is built on a point of land on the 
upper side of the outer entrance to Pulo Bay. Al- 
though the north part of it is high land, yet a sand 
bank and coral reef extends far out from the shore. 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 97 

Ships of large burden, having cargoes for the place, 
generally anchor at Pulo Tikoes, (Rat Island,) 
seven miles distant. 

"After breakfast, we paid our respects to his 
honour the Assistant Resident. He laboured under 
some embarrassment from a want of a perfect flu- 
ency in his English. Nevertheless, he was very 
polite, seemed interested in our announcement of the 
intentions of the Board, in reference to these islands, 
and expressed a willingness that we should distri- 
bute books in this place. We accordingly set our- 
selves to work ; I taking the Malay part of the 
population. At first the people seemed backward 
at receiving them, till I met a priest with whom I 
entered into conversation, and in the presence of 
many gave him a testament and two tracts, after 
reading which, aloud, for a few minutes, he walked 
on with them in his hand, through the Bazaar. 
Whether his example exerted an influence on the 
people, I know not, but soon I was necessitated 
to return to my lodgings for more, and it was 
not till the books were all gone, that I refused the 
request of many for books. 

"April 23. — This morning, at 6 o'clock, we 
weighed anchor, and with a pleasant four-knot 
breeze, stood off from the coast." L. 

"April 24. — To-day we have been running so 
near the coast of Sumatra, that we can see distinctly 
the dense forests ; the high mountains and deep vales. 
9 



98 MEMOIRS OF 

"April 26. — This morning we were in sight of 
the small islands scattered along the coast south of 
Padang. They are low, and most of them unin- 
habited. Many cocoa-nut trees line the shores. 
These islands are beautifully secluded spots. I al- 
most envied the lot of one solitary man I saw cours- 
ing along the beach. 

"As we approached Padang, the islands became 
mere bluffs, rising abruptly from the water, and 
covered to their very summits with the richest 
foliage. The scenery, altogether, was more pictu- 
resque and beautiful than any thing I had before 
witnessed. At 6 P. M. arrived in the Roads, and 
cast anchor under Pulo Pisang." M. 

" The anchorage is between Pulo Pisang bissar 
and Pulo Pisang kathil. The row from these to 
the town was romantic in the extreme. Pa- 
dang Head is a bold, rocky promontory, thickly 
w r ooded, hiding entirely the river and town. Ex- 
cept for the magazine on the top of the hill, a little 
in from the Head, and the signal staff, together 
with a few native houses, a stranger would suppose 
himself on an uninhabited part of the coast. 

" On rounding the Head, the river's mouth pre- 
sents itself, and also a few European houses on the 
beach. On proceeding up a little, the river craft, 
custom-house, and town itself, open to view. 

"April 29. — Spent most of the day in company 
with Mr. N. M. Ward, formerly of the English 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 99 

Baptist Society. He came out as a printer; first 
lived at Bencoolen, and laboured there successfully 
for about five years ; having established schools in 
all the vicinity, and brought them under good 
regulations. Soon after the place was made over 
to the Dutch, he removed to this place, and la- 
boured about two years. Mr. Evans, who was 
originally established here, and laboured five years, 
left about the time Mr. Ward came, on account of 
ill health. He is now living in England. Mr. 
Burton laboured two years in Tappanooly and 
vicinity, among the Battas. He gathered two 
small schools, but did not accomplish much ere ill 
health compelled him to abandon the station. 
From thence he proceeded to Bengal, where both 
he and his wife died. A manuscript collection of 
words which he made in the Batta language, and 
some other manuscripts, are in the college at Se- 
rampore; they, or copies, may be obtained, and 
would perhaps be of some use to future mis- 
sionaries. 

" Mr. Ward, in company with Mr. Burton, made 
a short incursion into the interior of the Batta 
country, from Tappanooly, but did not reach the 
most thickly inhabited part, which is on the borders 
of the great lake Tobah. Their journey up was 
five days, down, three, and six there. It was a fine 
level plain, covered with rice and houses as far as 
the eye could see ; perhaps thirty or forty miles. It 



100 MEMOIRS OF 

is called Salindong District. Mr. B.'s ill health 
compelled their return. They went up at the invi- 
tation of the people 3 who came to Tappanooly for 
trade, and soon after starting, fell in with a chief, 
who begged to accompany them, and at whose 
house they lived during the six days, making from 
there, daily, short excursions. Every where the peo- 
ple received them with joy, and entertained them 
well ; they being the first white men who had visit- 
ed the country. 

"The whole population came out to see them, and 
feel them, to ascertain whether or not they were flesh 
and blood. Sometimes they came in such crowds as 
to fairly block up the way. The missionaries carried 
the British flag always flying. This the people reve- 
renced ; not on account of its being a national sig- 
nal, but thinking it a charm. 

" They called a public meeting of all the chiefs 
in the vicinity, at which the object of the missiona- 
ries was explained, and the ten commandments 
read to them. They then entered into a long 
discussion whether or not they should adopt the 
moral law. They also had dances; one to the 
English flag, which was hoisted over the house, an- 
other to the missionaries themselves. The assembly 
was held from nine o'clock, A. M., to three o'clock, 
P. M." M. 

They found many remnants of Hindooism ; bul- 
locks and skulls upon the houses, dress of the wo- 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 101 

men, language, (for God they used the Hindoo word.) 
They believe that evil spirits reside in the water. 

" The lake of Tobah is about thirty miles in 
length, and has a regular rise and fall of tide; this 
the natives attribute to the influence of evil spirits.' 5 

L. 

"April 30. — I have now been long enough in 
Padang to form some estimate of the place and 
people. The town is an inconsiderable place, situ- 
ated on the Padang river, a small stream, one hun- 
dred yards wide, and extending twenty-five miles 
into the interior. To the south and east, the town 
is hedged in by high mountains. It enjoys a fine 
sea-breeze every day; is, on the whole, a very 
healthy place. The river is so shallow that there 
is not more than two fathoms of water at its mouth* 
The shipping finds a safe anchorage under Pulo Pi- 
sang. The numerous monuments scattered here 
and there, built over the remains of Europeans, 
show that many, from one cause or another, have 
fallen. Exclusive of soldiers, of whom there are 
2000 Europeans and Javanese, there are six hun- 
dred free Nyas men; Europeans, 200; Chinese, 
700; and Malays, on the whole plain, 40,000; 
slaves, 2000 ; Cling men, 200. The Nyas men are 
poor and wretched, but more civiliz 3d than in their 
native country. The Chinese are many of them 
from Pulo Pisang; some speak a little English. 
They are next in rank to European merchants. 
9* 



102 MEMOIRS OF 

They do not, as in Ratavia, deal in small articles ; 
this is all left to the Malays. Most of them are 
wholesale merchants, very intelligent, nearly all 
able to read, and apparently men of wealth. 

" The goldsmiths manifest an ingenuity, that one 
would not expect to find in such society. With a 
handful of tools of the rudest construction, they 
draw gold and silver wire, and make ornaments 
that would do credit to any European shop. In- 
deed, the clasps and chains of gold used by the 
first families, are of native manufacture. They 
are able to distinguish gold and silver from all 
counterfeits, of which there are here many, almost 
by intuition. They are so expert at this, that their 
word is law, even with Europeans. 

" The Cling men are butlers, washermen, and 
petty merchants. They are all Mohammedans. 

"The Malays have mosques, and the Chinese 
have a temple, all of which are frequented ; but the 
Europeans have a church, which is deserted. 

" They have a regular, organized church ; but 
for want of a minister, it is fast going to decay. 

" Their little meeting-house, in which the Rev. 
Mr. Evans used to officiate, has been so much in- 
jured by an earthquake, that it must be taken 
down." M. 

"April 30. — This evening visited old Mr. Int- 
feld ; one of the old Dutch settlers ; a truly vene- 
rable patriarch ; with silver buckles in his shoes, a 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 103 

broad skirted coat, large, portly frame, and long, 
silver-grey hair flowing upon his shoulders. He 
appeared, indeed, like one of the old school. A 
half century he has lived in India ; and yet he ap- 
pears vigorous and possessed of enlarged views, 
and well informed in modern improvements, for 
one of so advanced an age. Formerly he was ac- 
customed to translate sermons into Malay, and read 
of an evening in the church, to a congregation, in 
that language. 

"May 1.— A rainy morning prevented my going 
out to distribute books. A little after noon went 
through Passar Borong, one and a half miles in 
length ; and found but about one in ten that could 
read ; gave away forty books, but without meeting 
with any incident of importance. I left fifty more 
with old Mr. Intfeld, who wished to call in his 
Malay acquaintances, and explain the books to 
them as he gave them away. 

" Captain Boyle was once at Tappanoola, when an 
intelligent chief came to invite him and the post- 
holder to a feast upon a boy seven years of age. 
This boy's father, thirteen years previous, murdered 
the Rajah's brother ; the boy returned to the cam- 
pong, and on being questioned as to his parentage, 
very innocently acknowledged it ; whereupon he 
was immediately seized and eaten for the sins of his 
father, six years before he had the misfortune to come 
into the world. Captain B. expostulated ; \ O,' 



104 MEMOIRS OF 

the chief replied, ' I know how bad it is as well as 
yourself, but it is the law of my country, and 1 must 
abide by it.' " L. 

" May 3. — Went out this morning to distribute 
tracts among the Chinese ; everywhere well receiv- 
ed ; nearly all could read ; found one old man who 
seemed much pleased with the tracts, but seeing an 
idol in the room, I took occasion to ask him if he 
worshipped that for his God, he seemed alike con- 
fused; but finally said he worshipped God through 
the idol." M. 

" To-day we closed the bargain with Rajah Ma- 
den, a Malay, for the use of his boat for two months. 
It is of eight tons burden, one mast, and manned 
by six Malays, besides the Nakho-da, (commander.) 
He is to pay all expenses and be at all risk of the 
boat, furnish us with water and fine wood, and be 
at our disposal for two months." L. 

" May 4. — Preached to a respectable congrega- 
tion in a school-house, consisting of the officers of 
government, the soldiers and citizens. It seemed 
good to speak the truth once more to so large a con* 
gregation. Hearers respectable and attentive ; hope 
some good was done in the name of Jesus." M. 

" May 5. — Formerly there were but three sove- 
reignties in this part of the Island, Indrapore, Me- 
nangkabow, and Acheen. The two former scarcely 
exist now, except on paper, and in the legendary 
tale. Menangkabow is almost entirely extinct as to 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 105 

power, and the royal family of Indrapore live only 
on the royalty of their ancestors. The sovereignty 
formerly extended along this coast from Ager Bangy 
down as far as Europeans had any knowledge of 
the island, including, of course, Padang. The sul- 
tan now receives a salute of nine guns when he 
comes here, and is not amenable to the native courts, 
being acknowledged by the Dutch government as 
superior to any native chiefs of the districts. Still 
he scarcely possesses any authority out of his own 
village, and in that, only as a head man or datoek ; 
receives no pay from his people, and from govern- 
ment but one hundred and fifty dollars per annum. 
The native ruler of Moco-Moco has recently died, 
and it is said he is to have that district added to his 
real authority. It is well, however, to notice him, 
as the former power of the family gives great weight 
to his character, as the people retain a kind of super- 
stitious reverence for those who were formerly over 
them ; but he has in himself worthy traits of char- 
acter. He was two years in Mr. Evans' school at 
this place, reads and writes English, is very much 
interested in the cause of education, and the im 
provement of those over w 7 hom he can exert an influ- 
ence; delights in intercourse, and especially corres- 
pondence with Europeans. 

"May 6. — Was busy this morning packing up 
goods which we have purchased as presents, and 
making other arrangements for leaving. Saw the 



106 MEMOIRS OF 

captain of a Dutch brig just come from Nyas, who 
is post-holder at Pulo Batu. He says he should not 
dare to land at any place on the island except Gu- 
nong Stolis or Si Toelis, which is a Mohammedan 
village, and here we must depend on Mohammedan 
influence for protection, w T hich is like trusting to 
the false prophet for support while we invade his 
dominions. Pulo Batu contains about 5000 inhab- 
itants ; 4000 Nyas, and 1000 Bugis, Malays, and 
Chinese. Met to-day with a Chinaman born at 
Bencoolen, who speaks English very well, and also 
reads it. Malay he reads a little, and Chinese not at 
all. He seemed to understand the way of salvation 
by Christ as the only way, and the worship of Josh 
as foolish and wicked. At my invitation, he called 
this evening at the house, where we endeavour fur- 
ther to impress on his mind the necessity of making 
Christ his friend, prayed with him, gave him some 
tracts, and promised to obtain for him if possible an 
English testament, before he leaves for Bencoolen, 
which is to-morrow. O, that he might be taught 
by the spirit of God, and become the spiritual guide 
of thousands of his deluded countrymen ; so did we 
pray, and so would we ever pray. 

"May 7. — Employed most of the day in copy- 
ing charts for our tour ; received a note from the 
Chinaman, alluded to yesterday, requesting the Bi- 
ble. Having been unable to obtain one here, I send 
him the gift of my mother when I entered college ; 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 107 

my guide to Jesus Christ, and subsequent conductor 
in the way of salvation. It was a hard struggle, to 
me to part with it ; but how could I resist ? The 
Lord send his Spirit, and make the book to him 
what it has been to me, and I shall never regret 
having parted with it. 

" The Resident has appended to the resolutions 
of Government, in reference to us, a circular to the 
local authorities of Natal, Tappanooly, and Pulo 
Batu ; also a letter to the Malay chiefs, and another 
to Nyas chiefs on Nyas. 

" He has also in his report recently made to gov- 
ernment on the residency, recommended that mis- 
sionaries be sent into the Batta country, also into 
Borneo. He does not, however, recommend Dutch 
missionaries ; if the American Board occupy the 
ground, he says it is all the same. He recommends 
that the missionaries should reside a while at Pa- 
dang, Natal, Tappanooly, or Pulo Batu, and make 
occasional visits there while acquiring the language. 

" May 9. — We are % clear from the custom house, 
and in the morning at seven o'clock, the Lord pros- 
pering us, we hope to be under way. 

" As to missionary life, every thing seems to have 
been but preparation until now. I resolved to go, 
but it was distant. I left my father's house and 
country, but it was in company with my w 7 ife, to 
reside in a city of enlightened, Christian society. I 
bid my wife adieu, but it was to sail with pleasant 



108 MEMOIRS OF 

society in a fine ship, to remain a few days among 
a Christian people, to make inquiries and prepare for 
the work. Now the work of preparation is at an 
end ; all completed. We have spent the evening 
in a pleasant circle of friends, (Captain Town- 
send's,) and have bid them farewell. We stand now 
on the verge of civilization, just poising for a leap 
among the untamed savages, and the perils of ex- 
ploring a new country. I have at times almost been 
left to say, < Why was not I left over a snug parish 
in New England ? and why did not the Lord send 
by some other?' But no; the consolations of the 
gospel, the strength of the Lord, the fulfilment of 
that promise, ' Lo I am with you alway,' has sub- 
dued every other feeling. In our evening devotions 
the twenty-seventh psalm was read ; my soul seem- 
ed to enter into every word of it ; prayer was sweet ; 
it was pleasant to thank the Lord that he count- 
ed us worthy for the work, and to resign all into his 
hands for life or death ; it was pleasant, too, to re- 
turn thanks for all his dealings, in bringing us to 
this time, and to pray for all those friends whom, in 
his infinite mercy, he has raised up to assist us. It 
was sweet, also, in breaking away from this last 
point of the civilized world, and plunging for months 
into the depths of darkness and moral desolation, 
to raise one more anxious prayer in behalf of Chris- 
tendom, that the Church may be watered, and her 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 109 

watchmen not cease to lift up their voice while a 
sinner remains. 

" May 11.— This morning we found ourselves still 
in the river, there having been no wind during the 
night. Not wishing to sail on the Sabbath, we took 
breakfast at our old home, Captain Townsend's. 
Most of our conversation this evening has been in 
reference to the temperance cause. All over India, 
the brandy, gin, and wine come upon the table of 
every European, as regularly every day as his food, 
and no less regular is his segar ; but it will be best, 
perhaps, to give a view of a day's living as I have 
observed it. A cup of coffee is the first thing when 
out of bed ; then bathing, dressing, exercise, 
&c, till breakfast, at eight or nine o'clock, which 
is served up with coffee, tea, or wine, or all. At 
eleven o'clock comes strong drink, at twelve or one 
o'clock luncheon, with wine ; half-past five, dinner, 
at which wine is drank without reference to quan- 
tity, accompanied usually with strong beer ; after 
the cloth is removed the ladies retire to the drawing 
room to take their coffee or tea, and the gentlemen, 
furnished with fresh supplies of wine, together with 
a stand of brandy, gin, &c. &c. Every gentleman, 
almost, has a servant following him with a lighted 
rope, as if not a breath could be drawn separately 
from tobacco smoke. Such is the general character 
of the East India Europeans in reference to living, 
though there are many exceptions. Where the 
10 



110 MEMOIRS OF 

English customs prevail, the people are much more 
temperate, and approach nearer the New-England 
style of living, as at Padang. Still here are the 
strong drink and segars. Under such circumstances, 
with the apparatus before us, the discussion was 
highly interesting." L. 

" May 12. — We set sail this morning at five. 
Our boat, which carries but eight tons, is small, and 
our accommodations narrow and uncomfortable. 
Besides, it is an old boat, and the smell is intolera- 
ble. All the crew are Malays ; thus far they appear 
kind and accommodating ; it is trying to patience 
to sail with them. At four o'clock, P. M., because 
the wind headed them, they let down anchor rather 
than stir a sheet. 

" May 13. — Found ourselves this morning abreast 
of Priaman, just under Pulo Priaman ; dressed, 
took breakfast early, and went on shore. Priaman 
is the port to which Menangkabow people bring down 
their coffee. It is taken from thence to Padang in 
small boats* Had Priaman a good harbor, the 
Dutch would make it the capital of the west coast of 
Sumatra. 

" We found a captain and two companies of sol- 
diers engaged in erecting barracks. The Captain 
is a pleasant man, has been seventeen years in the 
country, fourteen of which he spent at Borneo. 

"He gave us many interesting accounts re- 
specting that island ; says the interior is inhabited 



M TJ N S N AND LYMAN. Ill 

by Paris people, who are more civilized than the 
Dyaks ; have forts, and those who have attempted 
to enter their country have been driven back, or 
murdered. He says that the Dyaks are a peaceable 
people, and we can travel among them without 
danger. 

' c Priaman, like most of the towns on the west 
coast, is a nook among the mountains. It is a 
large and beautiful plain, surrounded by high 
mountains. It wears the aspect of health and 
plenty. Its ready communication with one of the 
most powerful and wealthy tribes of the interior, 
would point it out as the central and principal port 
of Sumatra, were it not for the defect of its harbour ; 
a defect which no labour can remedy." M. 

"I called immediately upon the Toeangkoe, or 
Rajah. In front of his house, which was not unusu^ 
ally large, and built as a portico to it, was the bally- 
bally, or bechaza (consultation) house, forty feet 
square, larger than the main body of the house. 

"He is an inveterate opium smoker, as his eyes, 
his nose, &c, gave lamentable proofs. He is not, 
however, alone in this, for from this solitary cam- 
pong of 2500 persons, the income of government is 
2040 guilders per month for opium. 

" I began soon to make inquiries about his peo- 
ple, but he ' could answer no inquiries 3 until he had 
asked of the men who accompanied me, whether I 
belonged to government ; I saw from whence the 



112 MEMOIRS OF 

trouble arose, and explained fully who and what I 
was, and showed him Medhurst's school-book, in 
which he was interested, and was very desirous of 
retaining it to teach his own children. 

" He would be glad to have schools established, 
and the children taught. There are here but twenty 
persons who can read. The priests instruct at 
their houses. 

" There are twenty priests, two Hadjies, and 
one Mesjid, (mosque,) a miserable, dirty, little 
place, in which a priest resides. 

"I discoursed awhile with his excellency upon 
the way of salvation, and bade him a Salamat tin- 
gal, (good bye,) with apparently much good- will on 
both sides. 

"About one o'clock, we weighed anchor, and 
soon left Priaman far astern." L. 

"May 15. — Yesterday we were tossing all day 
without wind. 

"Mount Ophir, one of the most regular and 
beautiful, as well as highest mountains on Sumatra, 
was all day in sight. The want of wind compelled 
us to anchor outside, in sight of Pulo Panjang, to 
which we were next bound. The boat rolled in- 
cessantly. 

" After a little troubled sleep, I rose and went on 
deck. The air was cool and refreshing ; the night 
was calm ; the stillness of death reigned, except the 
distant roar of the waves beating on the shore. At 



IUNSON AND LYMAN, 113 

such a time my thoughts naturally turned towards 
the land and the friends I had left. I thought of the 
scenes of ray boyhood ; the causes which had con- 
spired to place me in my present circumstances ; and 
of the objects of my present pursuit. As I thought 
on the nature of the work that had been assigned 
me 3 the extent of the field, and the amount of la- 
bour to be performed, I felt it impressed upon me 
that this is to be the theatre of the remainder of my 
earthly existence, I felt as if bidding adieu to my 
friends forever; as if saying to them, Farewell ; we 
shall meet no more in this world. The days of 
our intercourse have been many and sweet, but 
they are past. I shall return to you no more. The 
seasons will go and return; days, months, and 
years will roll on; but I shall see you no more* 
Neither shall I see as I am seen, or know as I am 
known, till the heavens be no more; till the slum- 
bers of the grave are finished, and the voice of the 
archangel and the trump of God call all nations 
before the throne of retribution ! It w r as a solemn 
parting, and though only in thought, I have no 
wish that it should not be real." M. 

"Our prahu having come to anchor, and all 
things being in readiness, we left, at one o'clock, for 
Ayer Bafigy, distant eight or ten miles. Ayer Baii- 
gy is the first town on the west coast, in the Batta 
country, though no Battas of consequence are found 
until a day's journey, 
10* 



114 MEMOIRS OF 

"The Malays, or Malay Battas, usually inhabit- 
ing the coast are not considered within the pre- 
cincts of that country. 

"We saw to-day the son of the Rajah of the 
Rau, or Rawd country. He had as heavy a beard, 
long, bushy mustachios and whiskers, and hand- 
some, curly hair, as is seen upon the finest European 
head. 

" This is the Batta district which has been sub- 
dued by the Padrees, and the people become mostly 
Mohammedans, 

" The Dutch were recently driven out of the dis- 
trict, after being shut up in a fort nine days, and 
reduced almost to starvation ; so much so as to de- 
vour their dogs and horses. They made their 
egress in the night, in silence, and escaped to the 
Mandheeling district, where they have two forts to 
defend that people, at their own request, from the 
incursions of the Mohammedans. To the inquiry 
whether it would be now safe to travel there ? He 
replied, i Perfectly, if a man behaves himself well. 5 
So all say, and so we have hitherto found it ; treat 
the natives w T ell, and they will treat us well. 

"May 16. — The wind continuing a-head, we did 
not weigh anchor till day-light this morning ; and 
soon after, the wind coming a-head again, we cast 
anchor five or ten miles in advance of this morn- 
ing, near Pulo Poegago. This island is mostly 
low, and covered with cocoa-nut trees. Half a dozen 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 115 

families reside here, and have a few buffaloes, 
fowls, and goats. Here we found a small prahu 
from Natal, and its owner quite an intelligent man. 
He had been twenty days in the Batta country, 
(Mandheeling district.) He advised an entrance at 
the Toba district, by way of Tappanooly. Says if 
we declare ourselves Englishmen or Americans, the 
Battas, Bugis or Achinese, will receive us at once 
as friends. If the latter suppose us to be Dutch- 
men, nothing would induce them to spare our lives. 

"Our conversation, on collecting the islanders, 
and some from the main, who had come here, 
two or three miles, to obtain cocoa-nuts, turned on 
the plan of salvation, which was brought forward 
and discussed, with no other apparent effect than to 
lead them to suspect that I was a Padree." L. 

"May 17. — This morning, while passing a point 
of land, had a fine specimen of the animation that 
prevails in the solitude of the wilderness. Three 
or four species of monkeys set up their shrill cry, 
calling to and answering each other, with such a 
multitude of voices, as to leave the impression that 
every tree and shrub might be the habitation of at 
least one of these loo^iacious babblers." M. 

" The Sumatran shore, from Ayer Bafigy to 
Pulo Tamong, where we left it for Pulo Pingie, is 
wild, mountainous, and deeply indented with bays. 
Passed this morning Docsoen Telloe Lalang, which 
four or five years since was destroyed by the Pa- 



116 MEMOIRS OF 

drees. At the time, it contained two hundred in- 
habitants. 

"Had a conversation to-day with the Nakkoda 
upon some of the Mohammedan superstitions, as 
embraced by the Malays. He did not, nor did any 
of the Malays, to his knowledge, abstain from the use 
of wine and strong drink because the Koran pro- 
hibited it, but because it was of no use, but rather 
tended to make men worse. Nor did he abstain 
from the use of pork because the Koran prohibited 
it, but because if a Malay ate it, it would cause his 
skin to crack, and his hair to fall off. 

" The Nyas people are said to be treacherous, and 
under pretence of examining a man's fire-arms, use 
them against him, or under the pretence of leading 
him to a fine hunt of wild hogs, lead him into an 
ambuscade. This spirit, if it exists, has been pro- 
duced by the nefarious traffic in slaves, which has 
been so long carried on there. More than two hun- 
dred per annum are now actually carried off by the 
Dutch government and private individuals, under 
the gentle appellation of debtors. 

" The encouragement of the trade, leads every 
village to be continually in arms with a neigbour- 
ing village, and every man with his neighbours. 
Even the child who is sent to the spring for a little 
water, may never find his way to his home again. 
The Rajahs seize their subjects ; their subjects seize 
one another; and foreigners, Dutch, French, Achi- 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 117 

nese, Malays, &c, seize whoever they can lay their 
hands upon. 

" May 18. — It was some time, in making out our 
outfit, before I could bring my feelings to put down 
in the list, fire-arms and ammunition; they ap- 
peared so inconsistent with our object. But Mr. 
Ward joined all others in saying, that while it 
would be a temptation of Providence to go where 
wild beasts were so abundant, without arms, they 
would be a kind of scarecrow to all the natives, and 
save us (not by their use, but sight,) from much 
trouble and insult, and insure us, on the contrary, 
safety and respect. This, together with the fact, 
that all natives go armed, and we being on a tour 
of investigation, finally overcame my scruples. But 
I must confess, I would almost as soon allow 
my own life to be taken, as to take that of a fellow- 
man, though a savage. However, God will lead us 
into no trial but he will find a way of escape. In 
him we trust." L. 

"May 18.— When I think of the tribes of the 
Lord going up to worship, I feel forsaken and alone. 
Oh, for one New England Sabbath. This morn- 
ing, in opening my Bible, I found that well known 
passage in which Christ reproves his disciples for 
disputing who shonld be the greatest. I have, 
of late, often opened to this portion and I felt 
reproved. Perhaps it is the voice of my Master, 
cautioning me to beware, lest a spirit of pride 



118 MEMOIRS OF 

should influence me, and I begin to say within 
myself, who shall be the most accurate observer 7 
Who shall collect the most valuable information, 
and make out the best report ? I know too well 
the deceitfulness of the heart, to feel that I am in 
no danger of being influenced by such motives. I 
know too well, also, the sad effects which such a 
spirit has wrought among missionaries, to think 
that I can indulge such a disposition without guilt, 
and without much injury to the cause of God. 
My prayer is, that I may be delivered from it. God 
forbid that I seek for honour, or a name in this 
world ; but rather for glory and immortality in the 
world to come. I am willing that my name should 
stand in the lowest place on the catalogue of those 
who have devoted their lives to the cause of God, 
among the heathen. O, Lord, give me the right spirit. 

" Passed this morning a coral bank. The sight 
was novel and interesting. Sometimes I imagined 
the bottom covered with a fleecy cloud ; at others, 
I could discover nothing but white, interspersed 
with dark spots. Here were snow drifts, trees, and 
shrubbery ; and there, pillars, globes, and vases. 
It was to me a new and splendid exhibition of the 
rich and varied furniture of the deep. 

" May 19. — The wind was fair all night ; but 
the Malays would not stir the anchor, nor hoist the 
sail, till after breakfast ! Just when the wind had 
all died away they were ready to go. They are 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 119 

now, nine o'clock, P. M., rowing to get the boat 
into the harbour of Pulo Batu. 

"May 20.— This morning went on shore and 
called on the Post-holder. Learned some miscel- 
laneous facts in reference to the islands and their 
inhabitants. 

" Went to call at a campong, Bawa Tobara. 
Some of the men met us, and informed us that ten 
individuals were sick with the small-pox, and that 
they were making medicine, and sacrificing to the 
gods ; therefore we could not be permitted to enter 
their campong before eight o'clock, P. M. These 
rites they told us would continue seven days. The 
disease has made great ravages among them in 
past times. Eight years ago, it spread over these 
islands and swept off nearly one half of the popula- 
tion. At first sight I am constrained to call them 
a fine race of people. They are more slender and 
better formed than the Malays. Exceedingly 
athletic ; altogether an interesting race of idolators. 
I saw one of them exercise to-day with his shield, 
&c. He assumed the most horribly savage atti- 
tudes I ever saw. 

"The men had the right ear perforated, and 
many were filled with ornaments ; some had 
bracelets on the arm." M. 

" It is truly astonishing what perfect salamanders 
the natives are. With nothing on but a pair of 
drawers, or a bit of cloth wound about the loins, 



120 MEMOIRS OF 

and a handkerchief on the head, they will sit in a 
noon-day tropical sun, and laugh, and talk, and 
eat, with as much nonchalance as a New-Eng- 
lander will sit over the fire in the winter. The 
sun's rays would scorch our bodies in a few min- 
utes, but it makes no impression on them. 

" Everywhere young boys, in a perfect state of 
nudity, may be seen playing in the sun all day ; 
and I have seen young infants, apparently but a 
few weeks old, carried in their mothers' arms, or 
on her back, with naught to shield them from 
the sun's rays, the reflection of which from the 
ground, when my body was shaded, I could scarce- 
ly endure. 

" Off Sumatra's west coast is a group of islands, 
one hundred and twenty-two in number, called, as 
a whole, Pulo Batu, (Rock Island,) from a romantic 
rock. The largest is called Tanah Massa. 

" The whole number of people in the group are 
about 8000, living on nineteen different islands ; of 
whom 7357 are Nyas, 350 are Malays, 100 are 
Chinese, three are descendants of Dutch, making 
in all 7810. 

" Having spent most of the A. M. with the Post- 
holder, pro. tern., we visited the nearest Nyas vil- 
lage, Bawa Tobara, nearly or quite a mile up the 
coast. They appeared more open-hearted, manly, 
intelligent, independent, and friendly, than the 
Malays, Javanese, or central Sumatrans. They 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 121 

seem to be much interested in our object in visiting 
these parts, and expressed a willingness to have 
schools. I then explained to them how their 
language could be written, and their king could 
give his orders, and be understood, without leaving 
his house, and they could correspond with one 
another : at this they were highly delighted, and 
could scarcely find words to express themselves. 
We left them much gratified with our introduction 
to the people for whom we had so long prayed, and 
whose salvation has taken such deep hold of our 
hearts." L. 

" May 22. — Last night arrangements were made 
to leave in the boat, at half-past five o'clock, for Se- 
gata, an island about twelve miles distant, by far 
the most populous of the whole group. 

" The priests, says one man, of whom there are 
ten, on Segata, receive no compensation for their 
services ; but make likenesses of bad spirits, and 
sell them to the people. The god in the centre of 
the village is the great Satan, to whom sacrifice is 
made when there is an epidemic in the village. 
When there is sickness in a house, the small Satans 
are sacrificed to ; and the priest holds a bechara, 
for which he receives a rupee : or perhaps more. 

"We passed Hyo and Bintuang, two beautiful 
islands ; their shores covered with white sand, and 
skirted with cocoa-nut trees, with here and there a 

11 



122 MEMOIRS OF 

solitary banian, giving shade and protection to the 
boats of a fishing village. 

" At half-past ten we arrived at a carnpong ; but 
the head man was attending a dance at the vil- 
lage. The women came out to see us ; but as we 
advanced they receded. After making some ar- 
rangements for breakfast, we pushed on to the 
next carnpong. 

" Our way lay along the beach, and the burning 
rays of the sun were beyond endurance. When 
arrived at a short distance from the village, we sent 
our interpreter to inform the datock, head man, of 
our arrival, and that we wished to speak with him. 
He soon came out and welcomed us to the feast. 
We entered a walled enclosure, one hundred yards 
square, by a narrow gate, which seemed the only 
way of access to the village. At the entrance were 
about twenty hogs lying dead ; many were building 
fires upon them, and scorching them, as a sort of 
apology for dressing. Immediately after, they were 
cut up and put, with the intestines, into boiling pots, 
of which there were thirty in the square, and 
cooked. Boiled pork, with boiled rice, of which we 
saw a great abundance, constituted the feast. The 
pork not used on the occasion was divided by one of 
the principal head men, among the different vil- 
lagers who had brought hogs to be killed at the 
feast. 

" The work of division was accomplished with 



M U N S N AND LYMAN. 123 

the utmost order and good feeling. Not a murmur- 
ing word was heard. 

" At the entrance of the square a blue flag was 
flying ; near the centre was a red and yellow one, 
and before the Penghooloo's (chiefs) house, a white 
flag, besides two or three others. We were led 
rapidly through the yard to the house of the peng- 
hooloo, and ascended by a flight of steps to the 
principal hall. A mat was spread for us on the 
same platform with the master of the feast, and 
next to him we took our seats. A crowd followed 
us up the steps, and as soon as we had taken our 
seats, they all with one accord began to make the 
most deafening shout, as a token of joy at our 
arrival. At the beck of the penghooloo this was 
repeated several times. Directly the crowd retired, 
and we had full opportunity to look about and ob- 
serve the dress and ceremonies. On the same 
platform with ourselves, at our right, were seated 
fifteen or twenty females in their full dancing 
dresses. A description of their dress will give an 
idea of the whole. Their hair was neatly put up, 
and around it a beautiful head-dress of gold, with a 
bronze plume in front. Around their neck many 
of them had gold collars of peculiar workmanship. 
From each shoulder projected a piece of carved 
wood, to each of which, behind, were attached 
fifteen or twenty strings of yellow beads ; to the 
pendant end, brass bells and a small species of 



124 MEMOIRS OF 

shell. In front the strings passed from one shoulder 
to the other. Beneath this was a red bajoe, (short 
gown,) and about the waist a scarlet or yellow 
sarong, some of woollen, and others of silk, beauti- 
fully bound round, over which twenty or thirty 
yards of brass wire chain completed the dress of the 
body. Most of them had jewels in the ears, and 
clasps about the waist. The women of the peng- 
hooloo were distinguished by two ivory clasps of not 
less than a pound weight. The dress of the males 
was less gaudy and expensive. Many, especially 
the head men, were dressed in red or yellow bajoes 
(long jackets), and a sort of turban or cap upon the 
head : besides a profusion of ornaments on the 
fingers and right arms ; and an immense ring in 
the right ear. Each man had his kris and short 
cutlass. A few had on long red robes ; but many 
had no other dress than a few strips of cloth. 

" In the square, the women on one side, and the 
men on the other, formed a circle, and moved by a 
slow but regular step from left to right. The 
music, if it could be so called, was vocal. All were 
able to join in the dance : even children are taught 
to take the step with perfect regularity. One I saw 
not more than four years of age, who kept the time 
perfectly well. The circle sometimes consisted of a 
hundred, though it was constantly varying. Some 
were leaving and others joining it. The bride and 
bridegroom were not to be distinguished by their dress. 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 125 

" They joined in the dance, separated at a dis- 
tance from each other. The females were led on 
by aged matrons, while little girls brought up the 
rear. They offered us food, which we declined ; 
but at length it was brought in, and we could not 
refuse. It consisted of pork, cut up in square pieces, 
and boiled rice, both warm and cold. 

" We ate sparingly, and then asked permission to 
pass through the houses. We went from one end 
of the village to the other, passing from house to 
house through small doors. I could easily perceive 
that though their houses were similar, the skill of 
the ladies in putting things in order was very dif- 
ferent. 

" While some houses were sadly filled with filth 
and confusion, others might lay some claim to 
neatness. 

" When we had finished our observations, and 
distributed what few presents we brought, we took 
leave, not, however, till we had witnessed their skill in 
warlike manoeuvres. An old man distributed many 
presents, saying, £ this and this I give to you, friend,' 
and all the crowd shouted applause. The master 
of the feast wore false mustachios made of gold- 
leaf. From each corner of his mouth, horns of it 
projected like tusks." M. 

" Visited the opium shop. The islands are farm- 
ed out for four hundred and thirty guilders per month, 
I asked the Chinaman how many of the little 
11* 



126 MEMOIRS OF 

messes he was weighing out would make a man a 
fool ? He answered three ; I then remonstrated 
with him for making his fellow men fools at ten 
cents each." L. 

" May 23. — Found one man who had formerly- 
been connected with the mission school at Bencoo- 
len. He inquired if I knew Mr. Ward, at Padang. 
It is gratifying to see with what pleasure these men 
were remembered by all who were once connected 
with their schools. I love to trace the consequences 
of such efforts. The cause, it is true, has ceased, 
but the effects, the blessed effects, will be felt through 
eternity. 

" Mission schools are the engines with which God 
designs to break down the strongest bulwarks of 
superstition and idolatry. The disinterested spirit 
manifested by such men, imperceptibly makes an 
impression, on the mind even of a heathen youth, 
which neither time nor circumstances can ever 
efface." M. 

" Wherever we have gone among the Nyas, the 
cry has been for tombak, (tobacco.) This appears 
to be the sine qua non with them. A national 
frenzy seems to exist to obtain it. A few doit's 
worth of it will purchase what a rupee would not. 

" In their colour they are fairer than the Java- 
nese or Malays. They are open and frank, far 
removed from that sneaking, villainous duplicity 
of the Malays, which, the more one becomes 



M U N S N AND LYMAN. 127 

acquainted with them, the more he is led to 
abhor." L. 

" May 24 Set out this morning early for Bono. 

We reached the south-east side after rowing several 
miles over a coral reef, so shallow, that at low water a 
a man can pass from Bono to Sebranun, distant four 
miles. There are on Bono one hundred and twenty 
souls ; one campong, and a few scattered houses. We 
entered the campong, and inquired for the house of the 
penghooloo* We found his excellency seated on a pil- 
low making baskets. We entered into conversation 
and made many inquiries respecting the laws and 
customs of the Nyas people. He conversed with free- 
dom ; answered all our inquiries. He stated that 
there was no priest on Bono ; but when the people 
were sick, and it was necessary to make sacrifice, a 
priest came from Speaker, a neighbouring island and 
killed the hog. The crania of the swine thus killed 
are hung beneath the little stand on which the 
groups of gods are placed. The killing of hogs is 
not resorted to unless the priest's or doctor's pre- 
scriptions, (for they are both the same,) fail. Adul- 
tery, murder and theft are capital crimes. If a man 
lie he is fined ; if he divorces his wife, he pays a 
sum to the penghooloo ; this, however, is seldom 
done. There are two gods, one above and the 
other below. The one above is the less powerful, 
and receives lit tie or no worship; though he is con- 
sidered as a good being. The god below is the most 



128 MEMOIRS OF 

powerful of all beings ; he presides over the affairs 
of men. He commissions diseases, and they seize 
upon a solitary individual, or on a whole campong. 
He rebukes them, and they are stayed. To him the 
family or village make supplication, when visited by 
the desolating angel. 

"The God below, whose nameis Ladoe Radano, 
is looked upon as an evil spirit, and the father or 
original of all the evils which men suffer. The 
God above is a good being, and to him the soul re- 
turns when released from the body. 

" May 25. — This morning a man called to inform 
us that the penghooloo of Bambavo Jenoovoo or 
Segata, whose campong we had visited in his ab- 
sence, was now at home, and would be happy to 
see us. This man is certainly one of much intelli- 
gence, and in two interviews which we have had 
with him, has expressed himself in the most frank 
and open manner respecting the objects of our mis- 
sion. He wishes that white men might come and 
reside among the Nyas people, and instruct the chil- 
dren. His name is Ahovavooloo. I reget that time 
compels us to decline the invitation to visit his 
village. 

" May 26. — This morning we set off in the rain 
to pay our respects to Bajah Boekit, the head man of 
all the Batu islands. His ancestors formerly seized 
on Pulo Simoe, and held it as a sort of sove- 
reignty. Simoe is now under his jurisdiction. His 



MUNSON AND LYM^N. 129 

residence is on the north side of Pulo Massa, the 
largest of the Batu group. His village is in the 
true Nyas style ; is built on a hill about seventy- 
five feet high. The access to it is by a flight of un- 
hewn stone steps. We soon found the house of 
his excellency, and entered without ceremony. We 
took our seat in the place of honour ; about thirty 
attendants seated themselves on the floor. We com- 
menced our conversation without delay, and went 
through the whole range of questions usually pro- 
posed. His excellency, who is^a sharp-sighted old 
man, loquacious, and rather conceited, answered all 
our inquiries without hesitation, and with much ap- 
apparent frankness." M. 

" He appeared quite interested in our plans ; 
would be rejoiced himself, and thought the people 
generally, to receive missionaries, and endeavour to 
avail themselves of their instructions. 

" We saw here the first Nyas blacksmith's shop that 
we have seen. The forge consisted of a few small 
stones laid around in a small circle on the ground. 
The bellows were two perpendicular wooden cylin- 
ders, with a cotton stuffed swab in each, which a 
boy, standing on an elevation equal to the top, 
worked alternately up and down, on the principle 
of an air pump or syringe, and thus forced the air 
through a small bamboo at the bottom of each, 
which directed from both a continual stream upon 
the coals." L. 



130 MEMOIRS OF 

" May 27. — At four o'clock weighed anchor, and 
spread our sails for Nyas. I confess, when turning 
away from this interesting field, I felt a degree of 
regret ; it seems already ripe for the harvest. 

"The physical character of these islands is too 
strongly marked to be passed unnoticed. The 
whole Batu group, as far as my observations extend- 
ed, rest on a bed of lime-stone. In. some places it 
forms the basis of the shore, against which the sea 
beats with inconceivable violence. The continual 
dashing of the waves has cut out numerous irregu- 
lar channels ; yet the incorporation of recent shells 
and fragments of vegetable matter, with the solid 
rock, is certain proof that the immoveable founda- 
tions are making rapid conquests upon the domin- 
ions of the deep. 

" From the deep basins among the islands, coral 
beds are rising; and every year narrowing the 
bounds of navigation, by forming new reefs and 
islands, or uniting those before separated. So uni- 
form is this work, that at low water, a man can 
now walk from the west side of Bono to Sebranun, 
a distance of four miles. Some islands that were 
formerly distinct, are now united and form one. 
The soil is a light sand, intermixed with a black 
mould, evidently originating from the decomposi- 
tion of vegetable matter. Under proper cultivation, 
it might soon be made to produce all the necessaries 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 131 

and luxuries of a tropical climate. Among the 
fruits, the plantain, the pine-apple, the shadock, the 
rose-apple, the lime, and orange, flourish well, and 
are as cheap and abundant as in Java. Potatoes 
and sago are also extensively cultivated; the latter 
is the principal article of food among the Nyas and 
Malays. The rice used is brought from the island 
of Nyas. Hogs and fowls are found in great num- 
bers, in all the inhabited islands. Wild hogs are 
.abundant ; and in the large islands monkeys lite- 
rally swarm. / 

"The shores of this island, most exposed to the 
incessant beating of the heavy waves rolling in 
from the Indian Ocean, are lined with cocoa-nut 
trees, with a few solitary banians. The latter mark 
the place of the village, as they afford an excellent 
shelter to their boats and sampans. Some of the 
smaller islands are covered entirely with cocoa- 
nut trees and shrubbery ; while the hills and vales 
of the larger are loaded with dense forests of timber 
trees, adapted to all purposes of building and navi- 
gation. 

" On the shores of the islands, which are pro- 
tected from the violence of the waves, the mangrove 
takes the place of the palm, the sandy beach disap- 
pears, and those hardy sons of the vegetable king- 
dom, by thrusting their innumerable roots into the 
deep sand, seem to echo to the mighty waters, the 
sentiment of inspiration; 'Thus far shalt thou 



132 MEMOIRS OF 

come and no farther, and here shall thy proud waves 
be stayed.' 

" The principal employment of the inhabitants is 
fishing and making cocoa-nut oil. The food of the 
Nyas is sago and fish. Of the latter they take an 
abundance on the shores, besides immense numbers 
of shell-fish, which abound on the reefs of lime- 
stone. They plant large groves of the sago on 
the marshy parts of the island, which form a shade 
so perfect as to be actually dark at noon. The air 
issuing from these groves resembles that coming 
from a damp and confined cellar. The sago, min- 
gled with cocoa-nut milk, and cooked, constitutes 
the principal food of the Malays and Nyas men. 
Large numbers of the sea-slug, so much admired 
by the Chinese, are taken on the coast, and sold at 
an exorbitant price. 

" The manufacture of cocoa-nut oil may be called 
the business of the inhabitants. Twelve or four- 
teen good cocoa-nuts will make a quart of oil, which 
sells to the Chinese at the rate of twenty cents per 
gallon. Even at this low price, so abundant are 
the materials, that some of the Nyas have not only 
a competence, but may be esteemed wealthy. 

"The climate is said to be unhealthy. The 
truth of this will not be questioned if we look 
a moment at the condition of the soil. Most of the 
islands are low and swampy ; the soil covered with 
vegetation, which is constantly springing up and 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 183 

decaying. With the exception of here and there 
an acre occupied by a Nyas village, the whole is a 
wilderness. The effluvia arising from such a mass 
of decaying matter, especially from the plantations 
of sago, must contaminate the atmosphere, and 
load it with pestilence. However, I am fully per- 
suaded, that were some elevated position chosen, 
(and nothing is necessary but to go and take pos- 
session,) and the forest cleared away, it would be 
found as healthy as any station in a tropical cli- 
mate. The most destructive pestilence, that has 
ever visited these islands, is the small pox. 

"A Nyas village is altogether sui generis. A 
suitable place is selected at a short distance from the 
sea-shore. An oblong square, (perhaps one hun- 
dred yards by seventy-five,) is enclosed by a sub- 
stantial stone wall, seven or eight feet high, and as 
many in thickness. Next to the shore is a narrow 
gate-way, strongly defended. The two ends, and 
the back side of the square, are occupied by houses. 
On the right or left, near the gate-way, is a large 
well, fifty or sixty feet in circumference, and ten 
deep. Every one who draws water, descends into 
it by a flight of steps ; fills his bamboo, and re-as- 
cends by the same means. Near the well is an 
enclosure, designed as a bathing-house for females. 
The well, &c, are the property of the village. The 
head-man's house usually occupies the middle of the 
row of houses that front the gate. The houses are 
12 



134 MEMOIRS OF 

all united, and connected with each other by small 
doors. They are raised on posts, eight or ten feet 
from the ground. They are all of one story. Be- 
sides the back room, which is occupied mostly by 
the females, there is but one room to each house. 
This is a large hall, with the entrance at one side. 
On the front is an elevation extending across it, 
and above that another, which answers for a seat. 
Near this is a sort of lattice-work across the front of 
the house, which answers for a window. The 
whole is surmounted by a roof altogether dispropor- 
tionate, being as high as all the rest of the building. 
Near the house of the head-man is a stone, elevated 
two or three feet, as a stand, before which the village 
meetings are held. In the centre of the yard is the 
village god, placed in a little enclosure, beneath an 
attap roof. The remainder of the enclosure is a 
common, kept very neat and free from rubbish, for 
purposes of walking and athletic exercise. 

" On the whole, for neatness of design, for skill 
in workmanship, and cleanliness, a Nyas village far 
surpasses any thing I have ever seen among the 
Malays, or had ever expected from a people who are 
still ranked among barbarians. 

" The customs of the Nyas men are no less 
diverse from those of all other nations, than their 
habitations. Every extraordinary event among 
them is attended by a feast. Indeed, I doubt whe- 
ther there are any occurrences among them that are 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 135 

considered proper occasions of mourning. A birth, 
or death ; a marriage, or the visitation of a pesti- 
lence, are all attended by feasting. Scenes of festi- 
vity are accompanied with music and dancing. 
Each village owns a number of hogs in common ; 
and when a great feast is made, several villages 
unite ; each furnishing several hogs. After enough 
are killed for the occasion, each village receives of 
the remainder according to the number sent. The 
division is always made without dissatisfaction or 
disturbance. 

" Their mode of burying is peculiar. The body 
is kept two days after death, when it is deposited in 
a neat coffin, made much after the European man- 
ner, and carried to the place of deposit. 

" Their grave-yards, if so they can be called, are 
always selected in some lonely, unfrequented spot. 
In the Batu islands, the back side of the island, 
where there is a high surf, where no boats can 
land, where no village is near ; in a word, w T here 
solitude is undisturbed by the voice of man ; there 
the body is carried and laid on an elevated plat- 
form amidst the thickest shades of the forest. As 
I was strolling one day on the back side of Seboo- 
hassee, where nothing was heard but the dashing 
of the waves, and the singing of birds, beneath the 
shade of a large tree, I was startled to see seven or 
eight coffins arranged in regular order. I gazed a 
moment and hurried by, but had proceeded only a 



136 MEMOIRS OF 

few steps before I saw as many more, and a little 
farther was a still larger number. At the latter 
place one man had recently been deposited. His 
coffin was decorated with two small strips of red 
cloth in the form of flags, waving over it. Indeed 
for some distance, along the back of this island, the 
land is literally a Golgotha. A sepulchre with 
shattered coffins, and bones mingled with bones in 
horrid fraternity. 

"-The Nyas have a bad practice of cutting off the 
front teeth level with the gums, under a mistaken 
notion that it adds to their beauty. The god of 
fashion reigns here, as well as in more civilized 
society. 

"This is done at twelve or fifteen years of age. 
It is a very painful operation, and is followed by 
several days' illness. The practice injures their 
voices much. 

" They marry young ; the female sometimes at 
ten, and the male at fifteen. This is done by ask- 
ing the consent of the parents, sometimes of the 
head man. A feast, and the work is finished. They 
are husband and wife. 

" The priests are numerous ; their principal em- 
ployment, as priests, seems to be to make likenesses 
of the evil spirits, and hold becharas with the devil, 
in cases of sickness. For this they are well paid. 
Yet their income from this source by no means 



MTJNSON AND LI" MAN. 137 

meets their wants. They labour daily, as other 
citizens. 

"Their language is peculiar to themselves. 
Their words are uttered with great rapidity, and 
they are really the most noisy people I have ever 
seen. 

" No man is without a wooden shield, four or 
five feet in length, and fifteen inches in the middle, 
but tapering to a point at each end. Besides this 
they have the spear, kris, and sword. The arms 
of a Nyas man — and they seldom appear abroad 
without at least the kris and sword — are nearly a 
load for one man. Their war like exercise consists 
in a dexterous leap, so as to conceal the body be- 
hind the shield ; then a plunge or two with the 
spear ; when it is dropped, and the sword is drawn, 
and brandished twice or three times, which closes 
up the whole. The horrid aspect which the coun- 
tenance assumes during this exercise is altogether 
indescribable." M. 

" No person can marry more than one wife at a 
time. Upon the decease of a man's wife he can 
marry again if he chooses, in two or three days. 
When a woman's husband dies she must wait as 
many months before she again marries. No man 
can put away his wife as long as she retains a 
good character. 

u In case he designs to do it, he must apply to 
the Ametjoer, whose decision is final. If he ob- 
12* 



138 MEMOIRS OF 

jectSj they cannot be divorced. If he gives his 
consent, the man must pay the woman twenty 
dollars. 

" When a young person is detected in a lie by 
his parents, he receives a chastising. When ar- 
rived at years of discretion he is brought before the 
Ametjoer, and if he will not confess his fault, and 
exhibit penitence, he is fined twenty dollars. 

" When one is detected in theft, if he will not 
confess to the Ametjoer his fault, ask pardon of the 
one he has offended, and restore the property, his 
hands and feet are bound together, and he is cast 
into the sea. 

" Adultery and murder are punished with in- 
stant death by decapitation. These crimes occur 
so infrequently that some of the Ametjoers have 
almost lost the run of the laws. Some of the 
oldest inhabitants, in some villages, cannot recollect 
when either of the above crimes has occurred. 

" One Ametjoer, of Oro Hili, informed me that a 
Nyas man's becoming a Mohammedan, would 
subject him to expulsion from the Bunwa (village.) 
When asked how they would regard a man's 
throwing away his idols and becoming a Christian, 
he replied, no such case had yet occurred, and he 
knew not how far it would interfere with their 
customs. It would be time to decide when one 
had become a Christian. Others, however, in- 
formed us that there was no notice whatever taken 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 139 

of a man's becoming a Mohammedan. He would 
be obliged, however, on his own part to be very- 
careful not to become defiled where there were so 
many swine. 

" Rajah Bockit says, that but one has turned to 
the ways of the false prophet, and he resides still in 
his Bunwa. Others say there are twenty in Pulo 
Batu. 

" We have witnessed nothing among them that 
forbids the introduction of the gospel. They have 
great dread and reverence for white men, and great 
love for the English. They would rejoice to have 
their children taught to read and write, if it can be 
possible to write the Nyas language. A missionary 
among them would be well received. They are 
sufficiently far removed from the eye of the Dutch 
to receive no trouble from them, while sufficiently 
near to receive aid in times of trouble. He must, 
however, be careful that he always pursues such' a 
course as to convince the people that he has no 
connection whatever with government, while at the 
same time, according to gospel principles, he must 
render tribute to whom tribute is due, and custom 
to whom custom, and be cautious that he never 
does or says aught that will prejudice the minds 
of the people against the government. 

''" There is no question but now is the time to 
look after these 8000 souls. Every facility possible 
presents itself for present labour. The situation 



140 MEMOIRS OF 

of the people in a village for church and school is 
unparalleled in the history of missions. It is as 
easy calling them together, and the people would 
have no further to go than the students of a New 
England College. Then their superiority of mind 
and elevation of character ; their present exemption 
from vice ; the looseness of their heathenism ; their 
respect for foreigners ; their love for the English ; 
everything seems to say the field is white, already 
white for the harvest. Then its relation to Nyas. 
It is like a portico to a house. If a man does not 
find labour sufficient, one day's sail will carry him 
to 200,000 speaking the same language, and 
possessing the same customs. Or in connection with 
this might be established a school or two at Pa- 
dang, where are one thousand free, and two thous- 
and slave Nyas." L. 

" May 28. — Though I am now on my way to 
Nyas, my feelings have not yet left the Batu 
group. I am still in thought reviewing the field I 
have so hastily surveyed. I can still see its dense 
forests, its scattered villages, and hear the mighty 
waves dashing against the shores of its hundred 
islands. But that race of people on whom no light 
hasshined ; my heart feels for them. I would devise 
some means for their relief and salvation. It can- 
not be denied that they are superstitious, and in 
many respects degraded, yet they are not in a hope- 
less state. All their sacrifices are to propitiate the 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 141 

evil spirit, and to avert the calamities he has power 
to inflict. Rude likenesses of this god are ten-fold 
more numerous than even the population. To se- 
cure his favour is the beginning and end of their 
religion. The awe usually felt at the idea of a 
superior power ; and especially the high and holy 
sentiments of love and gratitude towards an all- 
wise and benevolent Father, which the Bible re- 
veals, not only do not exist, but as yet they are 
probably without a name. But with all their im- 
perfections they possess many redeeming qualities. 
They are not so low in the scale of morals as most 
heathen who have lived without the restraints of the 
gospel. 

" This morning we found ourselves in sight of 
the long-desired Nyas. I have read of it, thought 
of it, and prayed over it, but now I see it. The 
coast rises in gentle elevations, covered with grass 
and low shrubbery. Surely this beautiful spot 
could not have been designed for the residence of a 
being so degraded as man in his fallen state, but 
this desecration is permitted for a while, till a 
brighter day shall come. And a brighter day shall 
come. Along these shores the story of redeeming 
mercy shall be told, and believed. Here immortal 
hopes shall spring up, and ripen. 

"The sound of the £ church-going bell' shall 
echo along these valleys, and roll over these hills, 



142 MEMOIRS OF 

filling thousands of hearts with gladness and joy 
unutterable. 

" I love to dwell on such thoughts when treading 
on heathen shores. It makes me feel strong. I 
feel at home in my Master's own enclosure. 
Though Satan has usurped it for a little season, he 
is shortly to be driven out of it with shame and 
everlasting disgrace. 

" At night anchored at Simambawa. Found an 
Arab slaver and a Company's gun-boat in the roads. 
Heard rumours of a meditated attack of the Achi- 
nese on Gunong Holis." M. 

" May 29. — Spent part of the morning in con- 
versation with the Arab. He says around this bay 
are five thousand people, but under different chiefs. 
The villages are upon the summits of the hills, and 
almost entirely concealed by the heavy foliage. 
He is commissioned here by government ; — a Chris- 
tian government for the purchase of slaves. 

" The Dutch gravely talk of debtors. Of sending 
to Nyas for debtors. But here things go by their 
right names. It is selling slaves. They are 
brought down to the beach corded, and while the 
trade is going on, are bound to a post. And when 
the bargain is concluded, handed over like dumb 
beasts to the purchaser, and naked, except a bit of 
bark about the loins, led by the cords to the boat, 
and on board are fettered, and carried to a foreign 
land. ' And why do you fetter them V I asked the 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 143 

Arab, < Because they would throw themselves over- 
board, or in some other way destroy themselves; 
and perhaps they will do it now, as many do, before 
they arrive, or as soon as they arrive and are freed. 
I never fetter those who go willingly.' All the 
men on board were fettered. I saw on the guard 
boat that accompanied him, a very interesting boy 
and girl, of about four and five or six years of 
age. Their father and mother having died, their 
uncle, by having the temptation laid before him, 
had sold them. The government purchased them 
for a number of years ; at the expiration of which 
they are free. In the mean time they make coolies 
of them, and give them their clothes, food, $1.20 
cents per month ; or they sell their services to 
others. I have never yet, in all my inquiries, met 
with any one who has seen these people return to 
their native land, or has known them to be liberated. 
It may be said the slaves are better off than in 
Nyas. But who created them free ? And who is 
to be responsible for turning the hand of every man 
against his neighbour, and filling a nation of two 
hundred thousand of most interesting people, with 
the worst of crimes, stealing and trafficking in 
human flesh, and to obtain it, wading through 
their neighbour's blood? 

" May 29. — The chiefs came down with a train 
of armed vassals, bringing one slave. I saw the 
poor wretch dragged about with a cord passed over 



144 MEMOIRS OF 

his arms. He looked up with a melancholy smile 
upon the monsters who were selling and buying 
him, and then marched away to the floating 
prison." M. 

"About eleven o'clock two Rajahs, one over 
three hundred, the other over two hundred and 
fifty people, came down to the audience-house. 
The greatest Rajah was quite an intelligent man, 
a man of apparently great decision and firmness 
of purpose, but a notorious beggar. 

" When he learned we were Americans, he 
would take us up to his village, if we would give 
him some grog, as he said Americans always 
carried it. He would scarcely believe that we be- 
long to the temperance society. Next, we might 
go if we would give him some tobacco, &c, &c. 
He informed us, however, that we could go to no 
other village with safety. We declined his offer on 
the same grounds." L. 

" May 31. — To-day we have accomplished little. 
The other vessels have been taking in wood and 
water ; we have done nothing. By a boat that 
came up last night learned that the report of war 
has been very much exaggerated. The quarrel 
seems to be between the Achinese and Malays. 
Have resolved to go on. After getting so near the 
land of which we have thought so much, we cannot 
leave it without good reason. 

"We trust the Lord has some work for us to do 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 145 

in Nyas, which we cannot turn away from without 
incurring guilt." M. 

t{ June 3. — This morning we anchored before 
Mene. Before us was the breaking surf, the white 
beach, an interval of a quarter of a mile, checked 
with patches of trees, underwood, cultivated fields, 
and scattered huts, backed by a long range of 
hills of an undulating surface, divided between the 
wildness of nature and the improvements of the 
husbandman, with their tops covered with cocoa-nut 
groves, and villages of the Nyas. But what gives 
a beauty to the scene unknown in the more tempe- 
rate climate of New England, is the tall, graceful- 
ly-waving palm." L. 

" June 4. — In the evening had a long conversation 
with Mr. Messam, respecting the Nyas, their cus- 
toms, &c. He stated many miscellaneous facts re- 
specting the island and people. 

" He says there is only one good harbour about the 
island, which is at the north end, (the Mame.) At 
Nako ships can anchor with tolerable safety under 
the lee of the island. Except that place, there is no 
other on the west side of the island. 

"At Gelludallan, on the south coast, there are 
roads, as also Simambawa, Mana, Gunong, Stolis, 
&c. 

" He states that the rice raised is nearly or quite 
all of the Ladang or upland kind. The land is 
cleared of the shrubbery and grass, and then the 
13 



146 MEMOIRS OP 

rice is planted ten or twelve inches asunder. A 
sharp stick is thrust into the ground , and from four 
to six corns in a hole. If the low land is planted 
the rice is transplanted from the upland to the low. 
Large quantities of it are sold every year for the 
Padang market, and especially for the northern parts 
of Sumatra. 

" The Achinese consume great quantities of the 
Nyas rice. The seed time is May or June, and the 
harvest in four or five months. The produce of the 
best ground is one hundred and fifty fold, and the 
poorest is perhaps forty. One acre of land, well 
cultivated, will produce about one half loyang, 
(about one ton) or three hundred bamboos. The seed 
time and harvest of rice is the only time when the 
Nyas labour hard. The rest of the year is compara- 
tively a season of idleness. Men, women, and chil- 
dren all go into the field and labour together. A 
sort of kris seems to be their principal implement of 
husbandry. 

"The sugar-cane flourishes well. The Nyas 
make abundance of molasses, but no sugar. Sweet 
potatoes are raised plentifully. They plant them 
in hills seven or eight feel apart, and gather the crop 
as they may want them, a few bushels at a time. 

u Sufficient coffee grows for the consumption of 
the island. Though it is not much used here, nor 
does it equal Padang coffee, probably from the im- 
psrfect n\anner in which it is cultivated. Pulse is 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 147 

raised in sufficient quantities for internal consump- 
tion, besides considerable for exportation. 

" The cotton tree, (gossypium,) is found in all 
parts of the island ; and on the south coast a coarse 
cloth is manufactured for the native use. It is not 
the small shrub of Java, but a most beautiful tree, 
with distinct sets of branches, wearing an aspect 
altogether unique in the forest. 

" They receive in exchange for their rice, &c, 
tobacco, cloths of various descriptions, brass wire, 
(very large,) iron, steel, arrack, &c. The wire 
they make into rings for the arms, and of the iron 
and steel are made swords, krises and a sort of apo- 
logy for a hatchet. Their armlets of shell are from 
the shell lhama, obtained at Tappanooly. Their 
ornaments of gold are from Padang. 

" Of fruit they have the cocoa-nut, which flour- 
ishes in all parts of the island. Palm wine is not 
uncommon, yet intemperance is not a frequent vice. 
The betle palm is common. The durian, the plan- 
tain, the pine apple, the shaddock, &c, are plenti- 
ful. Oranges are not found. I had, however, the 
pleasure to leave seeds, which, with proper cultiva- 
tion, will spread over the whole island. 

" The animals of the island are few. Snakes 
are not unfrequent ; monkeys and wild hogs abound. 
Deer of several kinds inhabit the forests, or rather 
jungles. Buffaloes have been introduced by the Ma- 
lays, but are not at all valued by the Nyas. Indeed 



148 MEMOIRS OF 

they would not permit a man to reside in their cam- 
pong, who would keep a buffalo. Goats abound ; 
domestic fowls ; and the groves are well stocked with 
singing birds ; the parrot and Java sparrow are here 
seen. Hogs seem to be the life of the Nyas. With- 
out them they could not carry on the important 
operations of society. They could, without them, 
neither marry the living, heal the sick, or give burial 
to the dead. All these occasions require a feast, and 
a feast cannot be made without hogs. 

" The climate is peculiar. The days are warm, 
but as soon as the sun sets, a heavy dew begins to 
fall, and the thermometer sinks to seventy-seven 
degrees, while during the day it is above ninety. A 
residence among the hills, where one would enjoy 
both the land and the sea breeze, might not only be 
comfortable and delightful to the European, but also 
very healthy. The face of the country is broken ; 
rising into abrupt hills from the sea shore; and 
indeed, the whole island seems to be made up of a 
series of hills, thrown together without much order, 
varying in height from five hundred to one thou- 
sand, or perhaps fifteen hundred feet. 

" The language of Nyas is radically the same, 
though there are six dialects, which are distinguished 
by the harder and softer manner in which the word 
is pronounced. In some instances the words are 
altered or contracted. Though these dialects, in 
fact, amount to nothing, yet they enable the Nyas 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 149 

to distinguish the inhabitants of a different district 
from their own. 

lt The islands are divided into several districts, 
which are governed by distinct rajahs. Under these 
rajahs are head men. who preside over the affairs of 
a single village. The rank of these head men and 
rajahs is according to the number of men they are 
able to bring into the field in time of war. War is 
always indicated by a c certain sound ? of the gong. 
One kind of beat denotes marriage, another burial, 
and another war, &c. When the rajah dies his 
eldest son succeeds to his place. All the villages 
assemble ; a great feast is made, and the new rajah 
is carried about on the shoulders of his subjects, 
standing on a platform. The order of succession 
is the same among the head men. I cannot learn 
that they receive any compensation for their servi- 
ces, except free-will offerings and bribes. Yet they 
are usually the wealthiest of the population. In all 
important questions the rajah and head men are 
assembled and hold consultation. These are some- 
times continued several days. When the subject is 
thoroughly discussed in a full assembly, and the 
opinions all taken, (and there is generally a full 
agreement,) the decision is final. All cases of law 
are decided in this manner. Their laws are, with 
slight variations, the same throughout the island. 

" For theft they have various punishments, accord- 
ing to the nature of the crime. Stealing plantains 
13* 



150 MEMOIRS OF 

is fined fifty dollars ; goats something more ; and 
rice and gold are punished with death. Murder, 
adultery, and fornication meet with the same fate. 
In the latter cases, both man and woman are put to 
death. If a man owes his neighbour, and is unable 
to pay, in one year the debt is doubled, and the 
second year, it is doubled again ; i. e. a debt of one 
hundred dollars in three years becomes eight hun- 
dred ; or if he pays a part the remainder is doubled. 
After three years, the creditor pays a small sum to 
the rajah, as a bribe, and asks him to deliver that 
family into his hands. This granted, he gives up 
the family to the first slave-dealer that comes along. 
They are sold and the debt is paid. If they and 
their property amount to any thing more, the rela- 
tions share it. This is one of the fruitful sources 
of slavery. 

" Bribery is very prevalent. If a man adminis- 
ters poison to another, and it can be proved, he and 
all his family are sold into salvery. 

"Priests are numerous, though the compensation 
which they receive for their services is the same as 
at Pulo Batu. Priests are made by the people. The 
man who washes to be one puts on the aspect of 
phrenzy. He performs some surprising feat 5 by 
which the people suppose that he has intercourse 
with the bad spirit, and immediately pronounce him 
a priest. 

" June 5. — Having made previous arrangement, 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 151 

we set out at an early hour, to visit some of the Nyas 
rajahs. The Malay rajah, rajah Messam, and 
three or four servants composed our company. 

" In the Erenoqeah district there are six head men 
and one chief rajah. The population is about two 
thousand men. The head rajah lives a mile from 
the shore. . We ascended the side of the steep 
acclivity by a winding, narrow foot-path, through 
mud and long grass, which every where abounds. 
We crossed several rivulets of clear, cool water, issu- 
ing from the hills, and winding their way through 
the tall grass toward the shore. The house of the 
rajah is almost concealed behind the thick foliage 
of fruit trees, with which it is surrounded. It is a 
mean habitation for a rajah, though he is making 
preparations for a better. We entered by a ladder 
to the chief apartment, and took our seats. His 
excellency was not in. We waited some time, 
expecting to see something extra, and was not a 
little disappointed when a small, inferior, half naked 
native approached us, who was announced as the 
rajah. He shook hands, and then took his seat on 
the floor before us. Cocoa-nuts were brought, with 
which we quenched our thirst." M. 

" The Datoek having received his instructions, 
intimated that he had affairs of a public nature to 
communicate. The rajah called one of his bro- 
thers, and they placed themselves exactly in front 
of the Datoek, a few feet distant on the floor, and 



152 MEMOIRS OF 

signified that they were ready to hear. The Da- 
toek then made a long speech, in which he^explain- 
ed our object, the wishes of the good people of Ame- 
rica to send men to reside among them, and instruct 
them, &c, &c. The rajah expressed a great deal 
of pleasure at the proposal, and furthermore said he 
was very desirous such men should come, and no 
doubt they would be joyfully received by all the peo- 
ple. I could not but notice the eloquence with 
which the speeches on both sides, but particularly 
by the rajah, were delivered." L. 

" In the principal room were his gods, his charms, 
his weapons, and indeed, nearly all the apparatus of 
his office. A little bell suspended over our heads, 
answered the same purpose as such an article among 
Europeans. 

" The cooking-stove, as in all the houses in this 
part of the island, was at the back side of the great 
hall. Of course, there being no chimney, every 
article in the room was as black as years of smoke 
could make it. We made him a small present of 
cloth, but he did not appear to know how to make 
a return. Said if he killed hogs and made a feast, 
it could not be done that day ; and as for rice, it was 
not such food as we had been accustomed to. He 
seemed to be quite relieved, when we told him we 
did not wish for any return. The house in which 
he lives has been standing for a long time. It now 
contains fifty souls. 



MUNSON AND LYMAN, 153 

" As we descended by the ladder to the yard, we 
saw at the door a human skull suspended in a little 
wicker basket made for the purpose. On inquiry 
we found it to be the skull of the rajah of Genoho, 
who had been his enemy. The Nyas rajahs are 
very fond of obtaining skulls, especially of Malays, 
Chinese, and Europeans. The bones are ensigns 
of power when suspended at the door. From this 
habitation of royalty, we directed our course to 
another chief, who, though inferior in name, is not 
less in power. 

" We descended the hill, and prepared ourselves 
for a long walk up another, far more steep and diffi- 
cult. After a winding course of half an hour, we 
entered a field which was under preparations for 
paddy, and to our surprise we found the great chief 
and his wives busily engaged in preparing the ground 
for seed. He was very much confused and knew 
not what to say. To relieve him a little, we assured 
him that we were pleased to meet him in the field, 
for now we could see how he carried on the opera- 
tions of husbandry. He showed us his utensils 
for clearing the ground and preparing the soil. Said 
if we would ascend the hill, he should be happy to 
meet us at his house. We commenced the arduous 
task, by passing across his field and winding our 
way up a gentle ascent, through the long grass, that 
gives life and beauty to the hills, but which is the 
greatest enemy of the farmer. We passed many 



154 MEMOIRS OF 

cultivated spots, some covered with potatoes and 
plantains, and others with paddy and sugar-cane. 
Our path was a deep gully, as if one generation 
had trod in the foot-steps of another for a long suc- 
cession of ages." M. 

"Our bechara, with this chief, was attended 
with the same formalities as the other. He not 
only expressed the same opinion as the other Rajah, 
but said he would send to school all his own chil- 
dren, amounting to six or seven. 

" He said, also, that there would be no necessity 
of seeing the other five chiefs of this district, because 
he and his colleague were at the head of affairs. 
After leaving a similar present, we took our leave 
and commenced our descent. 

" In Erenoqeah and Gunong Si Toolis districts, 
there is much parental and filial affection ; but in 
the south-eastern districts scarcely any at all. A 
man there seizes his neighbour, binds him, and of- 
fers him for sale as a slave. If the unhappy man 
complains to the rajah, a few dollars from his cap- 
tor makes all quiet, and he can obtain no redress. 
Sometimes, in this way, parents sell their own chil- 
dren, and children their own parents. When a 
man's wife dies, he makes nothing of selling a child 
or two she has borne him, to purchase a second 
wife. Messam himself once bought a child sold in 
this way. As to the number of slaves annually car- 
ried from here, there are conflicting opinions. One, 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 155 

who has many years been engaged in the traffic, 
says, two hundred from the whole island. Another, 
who has resided here fifteen years, and was formerly 
engaged in it, says one thousand from Simambawa 
alone. Perhaps they will average five hundred 
per annum. 

"The Dutch Government have now a large 
prahu on the coast, engaged to obtain two 
hundred in six months. They likewise wish 
for one hundred more, in the same time. They 
allow about twenty dollars per head, and four dol- 
lars more as a premium. 

" The Achinese also purchase them, and occa- 
sionally the French. About two years since, a 
French ship took four hundred as a cargo, and 
landed them on the Isle of France. 

" When a rajah dies, his eldest son, or if he has 
no son, his nearest relation, if he has none, the man 
who will give the people the most money, is made 
rajah. Women are never allowed to assume this 
power. When a man is to be introduced into 
office, the people assemble and make a great feast, 
dance, carry upon their shoulders a platform upon 
which the new rajah exhibits himself in a dance. 

" The Nyas' have no temples, or, what may be 
strictly called, public priests. They have no holi- 
days. They believe in two gods, Love Langi, the 
benevolent God above, and the least powerful, and 
Battoe Bedani, Satan, who has power over all men 



156 MEMOIRS OF 

and evils in this world. To the latter they make 
all sacrifices, as being the most powerful, by the in- 
tervention, however, of the images in their houses. 
Besides these representations of Satan, they have in 
their houses images of all their family who have 
died, and when they make a feast, they give a por- 
tion to these ; believing that when they cease pay- 
ing their respects, evil will befall them. They 
have, also, attached to the handle of their krises, a 
charm, to prevent a blow upon the hand, and two 
or three little images, which are able to give rain 
when it is needed, and direct them in the right road 
at night. 

" They bury their dead in the northern districts, 
generally beneath the ground, and in the southern, 
above, generally near the house, under a small 
shed, with a roof built up to a high peak, and ter- 
minating in some sort of device. 

"If a missionary would wish to reside in the 
island, he would do well, as I have said before, to 
bring with him his household furniture, iron work 
for building, and stores, such as sugar, coffee, tea, 
&c., &c, and goods for purchasing the necessaries of 
life, and making some few presents. Goods should 
consist of tobacco, iron and steel, and coarse cloths 
particularly. When arrived here, he should pay 
his respects immediately to all the chiefs in the dis- 
trict ; state distinctly that he is not a Dutchman, but 
an American. He should ask them for a piece of 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 157 

land, or, rather, select a piece and tell them he 
wishes to build upon it. His timber he will 
purchase cheap. Labourers he will obtain, who 
will make his house after a fashion, if he can 
have patience to give them an exact plan, and 
show all parts. When he is ready to raise it, 
he must purchase a few hogs, and get ready a few 
cloths, and invite all the chiefs of the district. They 
will come, bringing some of their followers, par- 
take of his feast, receive his presents, raise his 
house, confer upon him a Nyas name, and he will 
ever be considered an initiated citizen, able to go 
any where in the district, unattended, and be ad- 
mitted to sit in the Becharas of the chiefs. This 
ground he can fence in, too, and cultivate, and it 
will ever after be considered his property. 

" He would do well to raise his own vegetables, 
fruits, fowls, hogs, sheep ; and keep a horse, with a 
saddle and bridle. Rice and potatoes he could al- 
ways purchase cheap, with goods. He must, of 
course, first obtain leave of the Resident at Padang, 
before he establishes himself permanently." L. 

"June 7.— Early this morning we landed at 
Gunong Stolis, to deliver our letters of introduction 
to the Malay chiefs. We passed up the river a 
short distance ; landed over the side of the prahu, 
and made our way to the house of Malim Kaga. 

" At the passage which leads to the village, was 
stationed a large cannon ! and near it an immense 
14 



158 MEMOIRS OF 

cauldron, full of boiling rice. We went immediate- 
ly to the rajah's house, which stands in the midst 
of the village. Entered by a ladder, and found an 
old man, who was introduced as the rajah. His 
name is Malim Kaga. His age is fifty ; has an 
open, frank, expressive countenance ; more so than 
Malays ordinarily possess. He was seated in state, 
at the corner of a large hall, beneath a canopy of 
scarlet and yellow. We produced our letter of in- 
troduction. He was unable to read, but handed it 
to another. It was read and understood ; all was 
c baiks,' (good). We took a few Malay books, 
which were most eagerly sought for. We had not 
enough to supply half the applicants. They 
greedily sought after them, as though they knew 
that the books told of Jesus. We had medicines 
which were much in request. 

" We proceeded up one-third, or half a mile, and 
landed at the Malay campong. This is situated 
some little distance from the banks, amidst a grove 
of cocoa-nut and durian trees. 

" The people seemed interested in our exposition 
of our object, and Hadji Palembang, son-in-law of 
the datoek, the most intelligent Malay here, speaks 
a little Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese, and English ; 
and is one of the panghooloos, or members of 
council. Said he had no children, but if we would 
establish a school, he would give a building for it, 
and see that the Malay children were gathered in ; 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 159 

also, that we might obtain a suitable teacher here 
for about three dollars per month, payable in goods. 
About fifty people came in, and listened to the 
bechara ; to a few we administered medicines. But 
as for books it was impossible to supply their de- 
mand. We had application upon application all 
the time we remained, till, after making at least 
fifty promises to bring more, we became tired. It 
was with the greatest difficulty that I brought away 
Medhurst's school-book. It seemed as if every one 
could read. I think I never before met with more 
free, frank, open-hearted, intelligent Malays. 

"June 8. — After breakfast visited the Malay 
village with my medicine, fifty tracts, and a volume 
of the New Testament. The books went like the 
dew; and I was obliged not only to use sharp 
language, but to pull them away by force from 
those who could not read, or but little, and who had 
taken them from the bundle before I was aware. 
In point of intelligence and vivacity I have never 
seen any Malays like them ; and to-day, as I went 
from house to house, 1 was surprised to find that the 
children were as fair as Nyas children of the same 
age, and, as bright and intelligent ; they approach 
so much nearer than the Malays of Java, to Euro- 
pean, that I could hardly persuade myself that 
they were pure Malay, but the inhabitants assured 
me that they were." m L. 

"On our return we visited a Malay school of 



160 MEMOIRS OF 

thirty fine looking boys 3 taught by an Arab. We 
had disposed of all our books, but promised more. 
There are here two other schools ; all appeared 
flourishing. This accounts for the large number 
of Malays that can read, and, consequently the 
great demand for books. On my return to the 
prahu, I saw a large number of Nyas men walking 
up the beach towards the village. At first I sup- 
posed some bechara was to be held ; but, on inquiry, 
found they had come to assist the Malays in the 
erection of a fort against the Achinese. There 
appears to be a most perfect understanding between 
the Malays and Nyas men. The former are con- 
sidered, in all deliberations for public good, as en- 
titled to a seat, and as having a right to give an 
opinion. The Malay and Nyas rajahs always sit in 
council together, and are on an equality. The 
Malays and Achinese, though brethren in religion, 
are sworn enemies in politics. They are especially 
jealous of each others power in Nyas. The Achi- 
nese have considerable settlements on the north end 
of the island. 

"June 9. — Having made previous arrangements 
to visit the rajah of Gunong Stolis, we took an early 
breakfast, and went on shore to procure a guide and 
interpreter. Our road lay along the sea-beach, for 
eight or nine miles, in a south-east direction. The 
land, for one fourth of a mile from the sea, is a level 
plain. It then abruptly rises into hills, so steep as 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 161 

scarcely to admit of cultivation. At little more than 
half the distance our path was intercepted by a 
river, A Malay village stood near it. Thither we 
directed our course to obtain a skiff. We crossed 
the stream and proceeded on our journey. Direct- 
ly, our progress was arrested by a high ridge of 
land, which seemed to thrust itself into the very 
waves of the sea. We wound our way up its side 
without difficulty ; but the descent, on the other 
side, was so steep and rugged, that I was compelled 
to let myself down, from rock to rock, till we found 
ourselves upon the beach, on the other side of the 
mountain. About a mile further we found another 
river, and near the sea-shore, on its left, a Malay 
campong. Here our course was directly inland, 
Having procured another guide, set off with haste, 
to reach, if possible, the rajah's, in season to return 
that night. Here we first learned that we had 
been deceived as to the distance ; for it was said to 
be but three hours from Gunong Stolis, and it was 
now half-past one o'clock, and we had travelled not 
less than nine miles. 

" Our way now became arduous and difficult, be- 
yond any thing I had before attempted. At first 
we passed through a large paddy field, in which 
were many wretched houses, and where children 
are stationed to frighten the birds. 

" Passing this field we began to ascend the hills. 
It had recently rained ; and the little foot-path, just 
14* 



162 MEMOIRS OF 

wide enough for one man to pass through the thick 
jungle, was as slippery as ice. It was not length of 
legs, but strength of muscle, now, that could help a 
man forward. Meeting two Nyas men, cutting 
wood, we took them in our train, and pushed on. 
The guide, who had but one eye, took the lead, 
The Nyas men and Malay brought up the rear. 
For fear we should be separated too far, the men 
called to each other from the front and rear, keeping 
up a merry echo along the dense forest. I felt 
amused at our little guide trotting through the mud, 
half naked, fanning himself with a dry leaf, and 
expressing in his countenance the utmost anxiety 
for the gentlemen behind. He said we should not 
be able to arrive at the rajah's. Sometimes we 
climbed up hills, so steep we were compelled to lay 
hold of the bushes, and draw ourselves up ; and 
then again we plunged into deep vales, thickly 
shaded with trees and vines. At length we came 
in sight of a village, on a high hill, where, we were 
told, was the rajah's house. I know not how we 
made our way to it. Brother Lyman threw him- 
self upon a mat as if half dead. When I had 
breathed a little, observing a number of sick people, 
among the crowd who had collected to look at us, 
I called them to me one by one, and gave them a 
little medicine. Some had ulcers ; one man re- 
duced to the veriest skeleton with the asthma ; and 
a little child which had fallen down and injured the 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 163 

chest considerably. It was pleasant to administer to 
the temporal wants of these poor yet friendly people. 

u . The rajah is a man of forty-five, sedate and 
dignified in his appearance ; yet he suffers from the 
most common of all diseases among the Nyas, the 
' white scurf,' or perhaps a species of leprosy. He 
received us with kindness ; but seemed not much 
disposed to converse on the subject of our mission. 
He evidently wished for more information before 
giving an opinion. He therefore promised to meet 
us the next day at Gunong Stolis. We gave him a 
few small articles, as a present. He seemed very 
much pleased with them ; and offered us a fine 
capon in return, which we were compelled to refuse. 
We told him we wished to make friends with the 
Nyas ; and, if he would come to Gunong Stolis, 
we would make him another present. He hinted 
to our interpreter, as he afterwards told us, that he 
would bring us down a slave! 

" Having looked about his house, and rested our- 
selves thoroughly for the long walk, we prepared to 
take our leave. At first I supposed him not so 
superstitious as most of his countrymen ; not seeing 
gods in the hall; but on looking around, I found 
twenty-eight images in one row, besides hogs' jaws, 
deers' horns, and charms innumerable. Among 
his paraphernalia were four or five small swivels, 
unmounted, in a back room. In going out, we saw 
a huge stone image, at the door. It was intended 



164 MEMOIRS OF 

to represent a man, rudely sculptured from a block 
of limestone. From its attitude I should suppose it 
might be intended to represent the guardian divinity 
of the village. The place was not large, yet the 
houses, most of them, were larger and better built 
than is common in this part of the island. 

"This rajah is the prince of ten villages. The 
influence of the chiefs could not now be safely 
reckoned on in establishing a mission in this district, 
because of the Malay chiefs who are permitted to 
sit in council, and deliberate, and give an opinion 
in all public matters. 

" We returned by a shorter way with much less 
fatigue than we went up. "We stopped at the 
Malay village next to the rajah's, and took cocoa- 
nut water, and gave medicines to a number of sick 
people, who flocked into the headman's house ; so 
as almost to make it a hospital. A woman in his 
house was nearly consumed with the leprosy. Soon 
after leaving this village, we were overtaken with 
rain. It wet the bushes in our path so as to drench 
us completely. When arrived at the river our in- 
terpreter forded it, and went to the village for the 
sampan. When we returned we sent by him, as 
the village was distant from the sea shore, a small 
present to the head-man for his trouble. He re- 
turned bringing two large cocoa-nuts, which were 
very refreshing. We reached the boat at seven, 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 165 

tired and hungry, having eaten nothing for thirteen 
hours, and having travelled twenty-five miles. 

" Gunong Stolis stands on a small river, of which 
there are several on the east coast of Nyas, two or 
three hours' sail in length. It is a lone and unhealthy 
place, judging from its location. At any rate, if its 
marshes were as extensive as those of Batavia, it 
would be altogether intolerable to the European. 

" The Malay village is the most filthy and unin- 
viting of any I have ever seen. The people are 
more intelligent than I have generally found Malays 
elsewhere. Most of them can read. Arabs abound 
here. Consequently the religion of the false prophet 
flourishes. Here are high priests, and priests, pray- 
ing chapels, and mosques, and all the paraphernalia 
of that accursed imposture. The Malay population 
is one thousand, all Mohammedans ; yet their 
efforts to convert the Nyas have not been attended 
with any success. c Makan Babe,' (eat pork,) is 
the touchstone of Mohammedanism, and the Nyas 
will eat it, religion, or no religion. It is their most 
delicious fare ; they cannot have a festival without 
it. I have seen the poor creatures look upon us 
with secret delight, when told that we eat pork. 
Yet to refrain from its use is the most distinguishing 
trait in the character of these Mohammedans." M. 

" June 11. — About four o'clock, P. M., the anchor 
was hoisted, and we sailed at a rapid rate down the 
coast. Our helmsman wishing to go south before 



166 MEMOIRS OF 

he crosses over to Tappanooly, rather than directly 
across, on account of breakers occasioned by Drake's 
Reef. In the interior, and especially on the southern 
coast, it is unsafe travelling without a guard. We 
did not feel that there was an object of sufficient 
magnitude to be gained, to hire a guard of fifteen or 
twenty men to pass across the island. Nor did we 
feel authorized to expose our lives, contrary to the 
advice of those we believed were our friends. We 
travelled as far as we could with safety, made all 
the inquiries which our circumstances would admit, 
and, from all we can gather, are fully convinced 
that Pulo Nyas is not in a suitable state for the 
establishment of a Christian mission, just now. On 
the other hand, Pulo Batu holds out every possible 
encouragement we could desire. True, the popu- 
lation is not large ; but, as they retain all the cus- 
toms and feelings of the inhabitants of Nyas, it is 
large enough to make a fair experiment upon. If 
the experiment should prove successful, the Board 
will feel amply rewarded for their labour. Besides, 
it will reduce the language to writing, and open a 
ready communication with the main island. If, on 
the other hand, the experiment should be unsuccess- 
ful ; or if it must fail altogether, it may as well fail 
among a population of five thousand, as of two 
hundred thousand. We say therefore, without 
hesitation, that the Nyas are a race of idolators that 
demand immediate attention. 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 167 

" So far as we have been able to discover, they 
possess few of those prejudices with which mission- 
aries among other nations have had to contend. 
In many respects their character resembles that of 
the Sandwich Islanders. If a mission is establish- 
ed, it is our opinion that Batu is the best place at 
present. The language may be acquired in Padang, 
and a station may be found in Batu. And, as 
soon as circumstances will admit, operations may 
be commenced on the main island. The Dutch 
may station soldiers on Nyas. Then there will be 
peace among the villages, and, consequently, safety. 
Or God will otherwise open the door, before the 
language can be acquired, and books prepared. 
We say then, without hesitation, no time should be 
lost in sending forth the labourers. Padang is the 
place to acquire the language, and Batu is the 
stepping-stone by which to ascend and take the 
citadel. 

" The physical character of the island much re- 
sembles Batu. It is a bed of calcareous tufa, thrown 
up from the bed of the ocean by some tremendous 
convulsion of nature. It is rather hilly and moun- 
tainous. Steep and high hills rise abruptly from 
the sea-shore, some of which may be denominated 
mountains. Palms and shrubbery are abundant ; 
but dense forests are unknown." M. 

" The island is divided into several small districts, 
containing a number of villages. Over each vil- 



168 MEMOIRS OP 

lage is a chief, and over the whole district is a head 
chief, or two head chiefs in colleague. The head 
chiefs of the districts, however, exercise no unlim- 
ited power, but act as moderators of their councils, 
&c. And in some of the southern districts, it is 
almost entirely each village for itself* In the mid- 
. die and northern districts all causes are decided, and 
all justice consummated by a council of all the chiefs 
in the district in which they use the court, or high 
dialect, which is quite different from the vulgar. 
The great mass of the population reside in the 
southern part of the island, in walled villages, while 
that of the middle and northern is more scattered ; 
and though residing on the summits of the hills, 
yet not generally in compact bodies, or in rows of 
connected houses. Their dwellings are detached 
and circular. The south is more given to trade than 
the north. It is principally in slaves and rice, which 
they exchange for tobacco, iron, steel, and cloths. 
The people in the interior trade with the rajah 
nearest the coast, and he with the boats and ships. 
The slave trade causes every man's hand to be 
against his neighbour, and the greatness of a man 
is known by the number of great heads he possess- 
es. Foreign heads stand in high estimation. Those 
of the Chinese higher than the Malays, and white 
men higher than either. 

"Their offensive armour is a spear and two 
knives, or krises, one perhaps eighteen inches, the 



M U N S N AND LYMAN. 169 

other two feet in length. The spears are of their 
own manufacture ; the head is of steel, sometimes 
straight, at others with an inverted prong, sharp on its 
outer edge. The handle is of a dark-coloured, hard 
wood ; sometimes ornamented with plaits of braid- 
ed rattan, lead, steel, or brass, two inches asunder ; 
sometimes inlaid with a spiral plait of brass one-half 
or three-fourths of an inch in width ; and sometimes 
ornamented just below the head with a tuft of hair, 
according to the fancy of the owner. The knives 
are also native, with wooden sheaths ornamented 
like the spear handle, or plain, according to fancy. 
The smaller is the common knife, which they use 
for all the purposes for which we use a multitude of 
complicated tools, and is never laid aside at home or 
abroad. It is generally plain and made for hard 
use. The larger is a full dress weapon, and used 
for purposes of war. A large ball is formed by 
binding some light substance on the outside just 
below the hilt, as a guard for the hand ; on the out- 
side of this are bound by narrow strips of different 
coloured cloths, little wooden images, whose province 
it is to give rain, direct the way in the night, 
<fec, besides various other ornaments, according to 
the taste or wealth of the owner. 

" Their defensive armour consists of a light, ob- 
long wooden shield, and in some cases, a wooden 
breast-plate, and a jacket reaching to the hips, made 
of the bark of trees, or cotton of native manufac- 
15 



170 memoirs or 

ture, woven without seam, thick and hard, offering 
nearly as much resistance as a coat of mail ; or 
they wear four, five, or six jackets of different kinds 
of cloth for the same purpose. The native jacket 
they value at about eight cents of a Spanish dollar, 
payable in goods, the shield at the same, and the 
spear and knives according to quality, varying from 
eighty cents to four dollars each. 

" In the use of their weapons they are very expert, 
and for a little tobacco any one of them will go 
through with their evolutions. They consist in 
dexterously throwing the body from side to side, i$to 
the air, and again squatting, constantly defending it 
with the shield, and brandishing the spear until it 
leaves the hand, when the knife is drawn and a 
tremendous onset is made with that. Their aim is 
taken just over the upper left corner of the shield. 
Not only would it be difficult for one unaccustomed 
to their movements, to hit them with a spear, but 
they will allow a person to throw stones at them as 
fast as they can throw, one at a time. 

" The southern portions are the most populous. 
One village there, Baba Baba's town, contains two 
thousand men, the same as the whole district of Ere- 
noqeah or Larago, (Gunong Stolis,) and another of 
one thousand five hundred men, Paleta's town. The 
Nyas reckon more women than men, and from all we 
have seen and heard, should say the smallest calcula- 
tion for children would be equal to both, and I should 



MUNSOK AND LYMAN. 171 

think it might be even double the number of men 
and women. Taking, however, the equality, we 
make eight thousand people in one village, and six 
thousand in another. 

" They do not lose sight of education or religion ; 
but like most other Malays, they have only the form 
even of Mohammedan godliness. They have one 
miserably poor mosque and two praying places only. 
Their priests are eight, and Hadjies three. I saw 
some half-dozen or more copies of the koran in differ- 
ent houses ; the first I have ever seen among the Ma- 
lays. Some few Arabs reside here, who of course 
are rigid followers of the false prophet ; but they 
can never influence the Malays where their own in- 
terest is concerned. 

" The population we had no means of ascertain- 
ing ; yet I should suppose it would be safe to put it at 
two hundred thousand. 

" The missionaries on Nyas will find that letters 
from government, &c, will not procure for them so 
much respect and attention as their American name, 
their own character, and their own purses. The 
Dutch name is everywhere feared by the Malays. 
By no people, perhaps, is it more hated, than by the 
Achinese ; whereas they hail as a friend, every 
Englishman, or American. Still, the favour of 
government must be obtained so far as residence, 
&c, is concerned. And nominally, government 
affords protection to all who have leave of residence, 



172 MEMOIRS OF 

by application to the nearest civil officer ; but it is 
such a heavy machine, and moves so slowly through 
its different grades of officers, and under-officers, 
that the best protection would always be the affec- 
tions of the people among whom the missionary 
resides. 

"We observed among them no signs of a musical 
taste. We saw no instruments of native manufac- 
ture, except, perhaps, one or two rude drums, which 
must have been patterned after the Malays'. Their 
song, which accompanies the dance, is a rude kind 
of bawling. 

" All the attempts of a missionary nature that 
have been made among this people, were by two 
French Papists, about two years since. They ob- 
tained Nyas servants at Pinang, and learned a little 
of the language. One of the servants became a 
convert. They arrived at Padang ; spent a short 
time in visiting the military post on Sumatra ; and 
were well received by the Catholic officers and 
soldiers. They w^ere, from all we learn, monkish, 
clownish enthusiasts. Their pay was but one 
hundred Spanish dollars, per annum, and they 
were miserably fitted out. They, however, refused 
all assistance for themselves, but willingly received 
old clothes from the officers, to give to the Nyas. 
One of them embarked at Padang, in a little open 
boat, which, after he had put in his own baggage, 
scarcely contained room for himself. He arrived at 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 173 

Gunong Stolis, and was kindly received by Messam 3 
who offered him his own house. But he chose 
rather to erect a little miserable open shed, on the 
hill, near the house of a petty chief. He visited 
among the people, and obtained a child of that 
chief as his pupil ; but in a short time took a fever, 
and died. His servant, also, had the same fever, 
but returned soon after to Padang, and resided a 
while with Mr. Embrycht. This man was hardly 
dead, and his goods sealed up, ere the other came, 
having embarked at Natal, where he had been to 
visit the upper stations of the Dutch. But the 
fever was already upon him, and he only landed at 
Gunong Stolis, to linger out eight or ten days, and 
go to his final account. 

" The Papists do not yet despair. They have 
held correspondence with Mr. Embrycht, on the 
subject of sending out other men, and expressed a 
determination of so doing. It would be a very easy 
matter for these followers of the Pope to substitute 
their pictures and idols, for the idols of the Nyas ; 
and engraft their mummeries., and impose their 
dazzling, pompous ceremonies upon them. They 
would not, like the Mohammedans, meet an in- 
superable obstacle at the threshold ; an unconquer- 
able attachment to pork. But who does not see the 
hand of the Lord in all this ? How long the people 
may be preserved in a waiting posture, for American 
15* 



174 MEMOIRS OF 

Christians to lead them to the fountain of life, who 
can tell ? 

"In the summer of the present year, six French 
Catholic priests came to Batavia, three of whom 
proceeded towards Cochin China and Siam, and 
three to Padang. The latter, on arriving at their 
destination, proceeded to study the Nyas language, 
and officiate, in the mean time, among the Catholic 
soldiers found there. One of them, however, finding 
their salary, one hundred dollars per annum, too 
small, returned to Batavia in the same vessel that 
took them from thence, to remonstrate with their 
superiors on the necessity of increasing their allow- 
ances ; but, after a short conference w T ith his friends 
here, proceeded immediately to Macao. The Prce- 
fectus Apostolicus Scholten, who presides over all 
the Catholics in Netherlands. India, proceeded, this 
fall, in person, to Padang; doubtless with a view of 
arranging and consolidating their missions in Su- 
matra ; from thence he goes to Rome, for which he 
has obtained leave of absence, for two years. From 
all this we may premise that the Catholics intend 
doing great things in that quarter." L. 

" June 12. — Still in the neighbourhood of Nyas. 
It is with feelings of deep interest that I look forward 
to the result of these hasty efforts to explore Nyas. 
In imagination I can leap over the few intervening 
years of darkness that remain, and dwell on a 
brighter morning. I can already see men filled 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 175 

with the apostolic spirit, travelling along these shores, 
and climbing over these hills, telling to one and an- 
other, as they go, the story of Jesus, and him cruci- 
fied. I can see the solemn assembly called, to hear 
the truth preached in its purity and power ; sinners 
listening and turning to the Lord ; saints singing 
and praying, and angels rejoicing. These are but 
the conquests that the Spirit of God is yet to work 
in the hearts of these now benighted idolators. 
The Lord hasten it in his own time. 

11 We find, to our extreme mortification, that our 
men, instead of taking us the most direct way from 
Gunong Stolis, have brought us almost to Natal, 
three times as far as to have taken the direct course. 
The consequence will be that, instead of two days' 
passage, we shall be nearly a week. We can 
ascribe this to nothing but a fear of the Achinese. 

" June 16. — Landed at Pulo Ely to procure wood 
and water. These Malays never lay in more than 
three or four days' store of either, at a time. The 
wind was fair, but in spite of all remonstrance, they 
would go. < How can we sail without them V was 
their significant negative. I went on shore to hurry 
them off. On landing, was surprised to find rows 
of posts ranged along the shore. Further back 
were fragments of household furniture, the frames 
of several buildings, &c, all indicating, in the 
plainest manner, that civilized man had been there. 
By inquiring I learned that a Mr. Horn, an Eng- 



176 MEMOIRS OF 

lishman, formerly lived there; but, about three 
years since, he was treacherously murdered by a 
Malay, and all his goods plundered, and carried off. 
It was a beautifully-retired spot ; a narrow flat in- 
cluded between the beach and a perpendicular cliff, 
at least two hundred feet high. Its summit was 
covered with lofty trees, whose branches seemed to 
hold intercourse with the clouds. 

" The bustle of business and the voice of mirth 
once cheered this secluded spot ; but now the silence 
of death reigns. The whole island is a high bluff. 
It is one of nature's fortifications, which she threw 
up as a barrier against the sea. 

" June 17. — To-day, at three o'clock, landed on 
Pang-chun island. It is a small island three miles 
from the head of Tappanooly bay, on which the fort 
and government establishment stand. Called on 
Mr. Bonnet, the Post-holder, who, though a Catholic 
in sentiment, received us very cordially. Gave us 
a room in his house, and a seat at his table. 

" At evening went up to look into the fort. It 
stands on a high rock, fronting the main entrance 
into the bay. Its situation is commanding and 
beautiful. A Dutch officer and fifty soldiers com- 
pose the garrison. About three hundred Malays 
live on the island. 

"June 18. — Have done little to-day but get our 
goods on shore, and commenced packing for our 
journey. Our friend Bonnet, who has travelled in 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 177 

the country, seemed disposed to give us all necessa- 
ry information. He has promised to procure coo- 
lies, &c. 

"June 21. — To-day we visited the rajah of Se- 
boga, at the head of the bay. The Resident, the 
commandant, and the officers of the vessel of war 
accompanied us. We landed a short distance from 
the village. The rajah came out to meet us. He 
is quite a young man, and is so modest and unas- 
suming in his behaviour, as at once to prepossess 
one in his favour. After reaching his house we 
began to make some inquiries respecting Mr. Bur- 
ton. He had seen him, but his father was rajah 
at the time of Mr. Burton's residence. We saw the 
spot where his house stood which is now taken 
down and removed. It was just out of the village, 
near the sea-shore, beneath the shade of some beau- 
tiful palm trees. When residing here he had a wife 
and three children. He lived here seven years, and 
it is now seven years since he removed to Bengal. 
We could find no traces of his labours, in the per- 
son of any native ; though it seems he had a small 
school in which the scholars learned English. 

" June 22. — We have resolved to enter the Batta 
country at Tappanooly, i. e. the head of the bay, 
about three miles from here. 

" To-morrow afternoon we set out. We have 
engaged our interpreter, an opas, and eight coolies. 

" The head man of a Batta village is to be our 



178 MEMOIRS OF 

interpreter. We shall go well provided and guarded 
at every point. Our greatest danger is, that our 
faith in God will not be strong enough. " Except 
the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that 
build it. ,? M. 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 179 



CHAPTER VII. 

The violent death of Messrs. Mnnson and Lyman, in attempt- 
ing to explore the Batta Country. 

From private letters written during the tour de- 
scribed above, it appears that Mr. Munson and Mr. 
Lyman endured many sufferings not noticed in their 
journal. The severe discipline through which they 
passed before reaching Tappanooly, resulted in 
great spiritual consolation, courageous hope, and firm 
confidence in God. At this period, more perfectly 
than ever before they "walked with God,",|hrougb 
a " supply of the spirit of Christ ;" danger, fatigue, 
and want ministered to their religious affections a 
high degree of purity and strength. 

While investigating the condition of degraded 
savages, " led captive by Satan at his pleasure," they 
longed to close their preliminary labours, and go 
about teaching the people publicly, and from house 
to house. They found the field " white already to 
harvest." But agreeably to their commission, they 
directed their course towards other and more popu- 
lous nations, to learn whether among them also 
Christian teachers might not be introduced, with the 
prospect of success. 



180 MEMOIRS OF 

With this design they arrived at Tappanooly, 
June 17, 1834. Here they wrote to their friends 
and the Board, briefly noticing the dangers and 
mercies of the tour thus far, and in a calm, cheer- 
ful strain, committing their future " way unto the 
Lord." These letters were their last. The journey 
which they now undertook conducted them through 
many hardships and perils to a violent death, and we 
trust also to " eternal life." 

The subjoined statements furnish all the infor- 
mation that has been received respecting the sudden 
removal of these lamented servants of God. The 
first is from the post-holder, a Dutch officer, at Tap- 
panooly, dated 2d July, 1834 : 

" To my bitter grief, I find myself under the ne- 
cessity of communicating to you the following mel- 
ancholy account : 

" On the 17th of June there arrived here, on board 
the proro ' Tanjah,' under the command of Malim 
Soctan, from Padang and Nyas, the Rev. Messrs. 
Lyman and Munson, both American Missionaries 
of the reformed persuasion, who informed me that 
it was their intention to undertake a journey into the 
Batta country, to Tobah, &c, for which end they 
requested my assistance in the providing the neces- 
sary guides, interpreters, and coolies for their bag- 
gage, which were accordingly provided by me, con- 
sisting of fourteen persons, viz : Datoe Radjae Man- 
coeta, the head of Kalangan district, together with 



M U N S N AND LYMAN. 181 

a police runner, named Si Rakim, and ten coolies, 
to which we added their own two servants ; but not 
before I myself, together with the second lieutenant, 
Schack, military commandant here, and Mr. Sick- 
man, commander of His Netherlands Majesty's 
schooner Argo, had most strongly dissuaded them 
from their purpose, but in vain. On the 23d of 
June, they went from the island on which the fort 
was built, by way of Tappanooly to Tobah, and on 
the 30th there appeared before me the above named 
Datoe Radjah Mankoeta, the police runner, all the 
coolies, and one of the servants of the above named 
gentlemen, called Si Jan, returning out of the Batta 
country, who, both severally and collectively, related 
to me the following tale : 

" That after their departure from Tappanooly, 
they passed the first night in the village of Si Bo- 
enga-Boenga, at the house of radjah Si Boendae : 
the second night in the village of Rappet, at the 
dwelling of radjah Swasa : the third at Pageran 
Sambong, at the place of radjah Gooroo Si Non- 
gan ; and from thence they went to Goeting, to the 
house of radjah Amani Bussir, (iron father,) by all 
which chiefs they were received with hospitality and 
respect, who, notwithstanding, most strongly advised 
them not to prosecute their journey any farther 
towards Tobah, saying that at Tobah there existed 
disturbances ; that at that moment, the journey was 
not to be undertaken without danger, and that they 
16 



182 MEMOIRS OF 

could not, and would not, be responsible for the con- 
sequences. To which Messrs. Lyman and Munson 
gave answer to these radjas, that since they came not 
as enemies but as friends to visit the Batta country, 
they had therefore no reason to fear the least danger, 
and thus they would prosecute their journey to To- 
bah. In this resolution they remained firm, till the 
28th, when they again prosecuted their journey from 
Goeting towards the village Sukka, at Selindong, 
with the intention of spending the night with the 
radja Berampak, at that place. While they were 
upon the march, about half way there, just at noon, 
they were met by five armed Batta people, who en- 
treated them to return, and not to prosecute their 
journey any farther if they would avoid exposing 
their lives to danger. 

" That the above named gentlemen, notwithstand- 
ing all these warnings, and the urgent request of 
their own followers, to return, would pay no atten- 
tion to all this; and the five Battas, after being 
provided with a little tobacco, were sent back, with 
orders to tell their Radjah, that they saw no danger 
in prosecuting their journey to Tobah, since they 
came to visit them as friends and not as enemies. 
Whereupon they proceeded upon their march, till 
about 4 P. M., when suddenly they saw themselves 
surrounded, in a wood, by a band of about 200 armed 
Battas, who made them lay down their arms, and 
then inhumanly murdered both Messrs. Lyman and 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 183 

Munson, and one of their servants. In the mean- 
time, the rest were enabled, after having forsaken 
the baggage, to j ump into the thicket, and, by flight, 
to save themselves. 

" That they, on their retreat hitherwards, had 
heard, that Mr. Lyman and his servant, the same 
evening on which they were murdered, and Mr. 
Munson the following morning, had been made 
away with by their murderers. 

"You will thus, by this declaration, be pleased to 
observe, that however great this misfortune has 
been, the gentlemen themselves have been much to 
blame, because neither here nor in the Batta coun- 
try, would they give ear to any one's warning or 
good counsel. 

" The property of the deceased, as much of it as 
was found here, shall be sent by me to Mr. Boyle, 
at Padang, according to their request before they 
went from hence into the Batta country." 

The following is the substance of the account 
given by Si Jan, the servant who accompanied 
Messrs. Munson and Lyman from Batavia. He is 
described as an honest, simple-hearted man, who 
had been long employed about the mission family, 
and appears to have been seriously impressed by 
the truth of the Christian religion. 

He states that, after leaving Tappanooly, " they 
found the road exceedingly difficult, consisting of 
hills and ravines covered with thick forests ; so 



184 MEMOIRS OP 

steep in many places, that they were obliged to as- 
cend by means of rattans, tied from the tops of rocks, 
and to descend on their haunches. The coolies 
were compelled to tie their burthens on their backs, 
being unable to carry them on their shoulders or 
heads. The brethren, however, were enabled to 
master these difficulties. The thicket was so 
dense, that they were not much troubled with the 
the heat of the sun, and the road so solitary, that 
they seldom met above four or five individuals in 
the course of a day's march. No houses or vil- 
lages were seen on the road, and only at the end of 
each day's journey did they come to any thing like 
a village. The journey was, of course, performed 
on foot, and yet they managed to advance about 
ten or twelve miles per day. When they arrived 
at a village, they were immediatly surrounded by 
multitudes of natives, men, women and children, 
who showed no sort of timidity at the presence of 
Europeans, but came boldly up to the travellers, and 
examined their persons and dresses with much ea- 
gerness, asking importunately for tobacco. On the 
second night after their departure, they fell in with 
a Radjah Swasa, who told them that it would be 
better not to attempt to enter the Batta country at 
first, but stay at Panchan until he should have 
time to go into the interior and make inquiries, 
when he would send them a letter from Tobah, to 
inform them whether or not they would be well ve- 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 185 

ceived. The brethren replied, that they came with 
peaceable intentions, and that there was no neces- 
sity for such a measure. On being questioned 
whether he had joined in persuading the brethren 
not to proceed, Si Jan replied that he had not ; but 
while staying at Panchan, and hearing such fearful 
accounts from the Malays residing there, of the 
murderous practices and cannabalic habits of the 
Battas, he had requested Mr. Lyman to be allowed 
to remain behind, with the Chinese teacher, but 
that Mr. Lyman replied, he must go, and that they 
could not do without him. He therefore went, ac- 
cordingly. The following villages which they 
came to, with the names of their Radjah's, Si Jan 
does not recollect ; he only remembers crossing a 
very rapid river, which they effected by swinging 
across on rattan, tied from one side to the other. 
The day on which the brethren fell, he thinks must 
be Saturday, because he heard Mr. Lyman propose 
stopping a day at the next stage for the Sabbath. 
He has no recollection of the five Battas met on the 
day of their murder, who cautioned the brethren to 
return, nor any other warning but that given by 
the Radjah Swasa." 

The last onset Si Jan describes as follows : — 
" About four o'clock in the afternoon of that day, 
they came suddenly upon a log fort, which was oc- 
cupied by a number of men, armed with muskets, 
spears, &c. To this fort they had approached within 
16* 



186 MEMOIRS OF 

a hundred yards without being aware of it. On 
spying the fort and the men, the interpreter offered 
to go first and parley with them. After him 
followed the coolies with the baggage, and the 
brethren, their two servants, and the police runner 
behind. When the interpreter arrived at the fort. 
Si Jan heard a disturbance, and on looking round, 
found a band of about 200 armed men close upon 
them, from the side and the rear. The coolies, upon 
seeing the troop, and hearing the noise, threw down 
their burthen and fled, escaping on the other side ; the 
interpreter also became invisible. Immediately the 
crowd of Battas came upon them, hallooing and 
brandishing their weapons, threatening to despatch 
the travellers at once. They came so near with 
their pointed spears and muskets, that Mr. Lyman 
was enabled to push by their weapons with his 
hands, entreating them to wait a little, and come to 
an explanation, taking off at the same time, their 
hats and throwing them to them, with some tobacco 
which they had. This not pacifying the rabble, 
Mr. Lyman delivered up his pistols, as did also Mr. 
Munson, which were received and handed to the 
rest, but the disturbance continued. Mr. Lyman 
then asked Si Jan for the musket which he carried, 
but Si Jan refused to deliver it up, saying he then 
should be left defenceless. Si Jan even offered to 
iire, but Mr. Lyman withheld him, and asked for 
the musket for his own use. Si Jan gave it to him 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 187 

accordingly, and Mr. L. immediately handed it over 
to the Battas. Mr. L. then said, call the the inter- 
preter ; Si Jan ran a little way to call him, but not 
perceiving him^ turned round to go to Mr. Lyman, 
when he heard the report of a musket, and saw 
Mr. Lyman fall, calling out Jan ! Jan ! A shout 
then rose from the Battas, which was answered by 
those from the fort. A rush was then made on 
Mr. Munson, who was run through the body, and 
fell. Another shout then followed. The cook, 
who had on a jacket given him by Mr. Munson, 
was the next victim. On seeing the brethren fall, 
he attempted to escape, but was pursued, and by 
one blow of their cleavers, had his arm cut off, 
while the cleaver went through the arm into his 
side. Si Jan and the police runner now ran for 
their lives, and got into a thicket at a short distance : 
here they secreted themselves under the bushes, and 
remained all night, (the evening shades having al- 
ready set in,) until 5 o'clock next morning. While 
Si Jan was in the thicket, he heard much shouting 
and rejoicing : and about seven o'clock the Battas 
fired off all their muskets, and then remained 
quiet." 

In a letter to the Barnstable County Auxiliary 
Missionary Society, which had engaged to support 
Mr. Munson, Rev. Mr. Medhurst, of Batavia, thus 
writes : — 

"By the report of the Post-holder, he appears to 



188 MEMOIRS OF 

have freely offered the brethren his advice, and 
strongly to have persuaded them against the jour- 
ney, — yea he repeats this so often, and urges it by 
so many considerations, as strongly to excite the 
suspicion that he is mainly anxious to exonerate 
himself from blame, in allowing them to proceed 
on such a dangerous expedition. The impression 
on my mind is, that he did not use those strong 
dissuasives which he gives out, and that on the con- 
trary, he represented the journey as comparatively 
free from danger, though the travelling would be 
exceedingly difficult. This appears from a letter 
written by Mr. Munson, the day previous to his de- 
parture from Tappanooly, and by the report of the 
Chinese teacher, who speaks much more strongly 
on the subject than I have even ventured to insert 
in the report. I have been a traveller myself on 
exploring tours, something similar to those under- 
taken by our beloved brethren, and 1 know that it 
is exceedingly difficult for travellers to know how 
to act on the advice given them. Sometimes I 
have had an undertaking represented to me as cer- 
tain destruction, when the result has turned out fa- 
vourable, and on the other hand, have not received 
a single warning when dangers thick and many 
awaited me. If the brethren must, therefore, per- 
form the duties required of them, it was incumbent 
on them frequently to act on their own judgment, 
independent of the advice given them, or to com- 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 189 

pare different accounts together, and decide accord- 
ing to their own impressions. A pusillanimous 
and hesitating line of conduct, is bad policy in the 
common affairs of life, much more so on an explor- 
ing tour. Something must be ventured — and we 
have instances enough on record of the success at- 
tending such expeditions, to encourage us to perse- 
vere, though now and then a melancholy fact of a 
contrary nature, to teach us not to presume. I am 
one of those who do not regard missionaries as un- 
der peculiar protection as to temporals— they must 
bear their share of the ills of humanity, as well as 
the rest of mankind. This, however, is certain — 
a good man is immortal till his work is done. Their 
warfare was accomplished, the crow T n of glory was 
awaiting them, and the Lord saw fit thus early to 
call them up to wear it. To them, sudden death 
was sudden glory — they departed, and were with 
Christ, which was far better. The manner of their 
death was violent, and to human feelings, dreadful, 
— but of Stephen, who died a more dreadful death, 
an inspired penman assures us that he fell asleep. 
Thus of our brethren it may be said, 'they sleep in 
Jesus,' &c. With regard to the interests of reli- 
gion, and the salvation of the Battas, the prospects 
indeed appear gloomy, and Zion may mourn be- 
cause her sons are fallen ; but when did the inter- 
ests of the Christian Church ever appear more 
gloomy than when the disconsolate fellow-travellers 



190 MEMOIRS OP 

exclaimed, 'We hoped that it had been he who 
should have redeemed Israel, and besides all this, 
to-day is the third day since these things were 
done,' — and yet, when did an event ever take place 
so favourable to the interests of true religion, and 
when were poor heart-broken saints so near the pe- 
riod of their comfort ?" 

Rev. Mr. Ennis, who has recently travelled in 
the Batta country, was informed at Tappanooly 
that, " had the people who committed the deed 
known in what character the brethren came, they 
would not have been murdered; but, being en- 
gaged in disturbances with a neighbouring village, 
and agitated with anger and fear, and seeing two 
strangers of unusual appearance approach ; in the 
blind, tumultuous passions of war, they acted with- 
out knowing what they did.* It must be regarded, 
therefore, as accidental, and not as an occurrence 
which is to be expected in travelling in the Batta 
country. In 1824, Messrs. Ward and Burton pass- 
ed through the same route, without seeing any 
danger, j) 

" When it became known from natives on the 
coast, and from others on the road, that the brethren 
were good men, and had come to do the Batta 
nation good, all the villages around leagued together 
for vengeance against the village where the outrage 
was perpetrated, and to require blood for blood. 
The unhappy village was named Sacca. In an 



M U N S O N AND LYMAN. 191 

unsuspected hour the surrounding population came 
upon it ; set the houses on fire, killed as many of 
the inhabitants as they could, and destroyed their 
gardens and fields. Those who escaped were dis- 
persed, some in one direction, and some in another ; 
so that their community was dissolved. In their 
fields, and the place where their village stood, a 
thick jungle or swamp is now growing up, and the 
name of Sacca is no more heard." 

No such retaliation as this was meditated by the 
relatives and Christian friends of the murdered 
missionaries. When the widowed mother of Mr. 
Lyman received the tidings of his death, she re- 
marked, with flowing tears : " I am so far from 
sorry that I parted with Henry as a missionary to 
the heathen, that I never felt so strong a desire that 
some of my other children should engage in the 
same cause. O, how much do those poor creatures 
who murdered my son, need the gospel." So also 
judged the churches and the Missionary Board ; 
for, without delay, others were sent forth to preach 
the gospel to the islands of the East, " beginning 
at " the Batta country. 

It has been frequently asserted that the mission- 
aries were imprudent in attempting to enter the 
region where they fell. The remarks of Mr. Med- 
hurst given above, go far towards setting the alle- 
gation aside. It should also be considered that, a 
short time before their death, they visited the island 



192 MEMOIRS OF 

of Neasj and state expressly that they " did not pene- 
trate far into the interior, because it is unsafe travel- 
ing into the interior of that island." Would they 
not, for the same reason, have refrained from the 
fatal expedition to the Battas, if they had possessed 
sufficient evidence that it could be attempted only 
at the hazard of life ? 

There is no certain proof that the Post-holder or 
others at Tappanooly attempted to dissuade them 
from undertaking the journey, on the ground that 
they would be liable to be cut off by the hands of 
men. Their warnings had respect to other dangers 
and difficulties. 

Some one at Tappanooly having "reported that 
the Battas would murder any white man who 
should go among them, the Post-holder, being in- 
formed of it by Mr. Munson, announced that he 
would severely punish any person who should 
spread such a report. It is impossible to determine 
what credit was due to the rumours which they 
heard after setting forth on the journey. It rested 
with the brethren themselves to decide. They 
judged it best to proceed. That they judged rashly 
no one should affirm, without a more particular ac- 
quaintance with the circumstances of the case than 
it is possible at present to obtain. 

To some it has appeared unaccountable, not to 
say censurable, that the missionaries furnished 
themselves with fire-arms before commencing their 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 193 

tour. Upon this point it must suffice to say, that it 
was with extreme reluctance they consented to in- 
clude these articles in their outfit, and did so only 
upon the urgent advice of persons accustomed to 
travel in Sumatra, who assured them that the 
country abounds with beasts of prey, which infest 
the districts between the villages. To protect them- 
selves from these animals, and to procure food in 
the forests, were the chief reason why they travelled 
with muskets. It is certain that they had no in- 
tention of using them to the injury of their fellow 
men. When threatened with violence, instead of 
"resisting evil," they at once surrendered their 
arms. 

But their work was finished. Neither their rare 
endowments, nor their benevolent designs, nor the 
hopes and prayers of the church, could turn aside 
the appointed blow. For the love they bore to 
Christ and their fellow-men, li they jeoparded their 
lives unto the death in the high places of the field. 57 

In their poor triumph over these devoted men, 
little thought the miserable Battas what love, and 
what comprehensive plans of benevolence were 
treasured up in those hearts which they pierced. 
Nor did these Cannibals once dream that in the ago- 
nies of a cruel death, their victims prayed, " Father 
forgive them ! " 

It was often remarked by persons well acquaint- 
ed with each of the brethren, that their respective 
17 



194 MEMOIRS OP 

characteristics happily fitted them to labour as asso- 
ciates. Munson was placid, deliberate, and firm. 
Lyman was ardent, fearless and active ; Munson sur- 
veyed an enterprise more in relation to its difficul- 
ties and dangers ; Lyman looked at the means of 
success, and kindled in view of the good to be 
achieved ; neither was pertinacious ; both delighted 
to ask counsel of the Lord. In their views of 
Christian doctrine, there was entire agreement ; both 
adopting the system taught by Edwards, Bellamy, 
and D wight. They stood aloof from those recent 
theological speculations in New England, which 
Evarts, Cornelius, and Porter viewed with grief anct 
alarm. Against commissioning to labour among 
the heathen, such teachers as embrace the dogmas 
referred to, not a few of the early/tried and liberal 
friends of missions most solemnly protest. Should 
they know of such persons being appointed to prose- 
cute the enterprize commenced by Mills, Hall, and 
their associates, they would regard it as ominous ot 
far greater evil than an exhausted treasury at home, 
or the severest embarrassments abroad. Believing, 
as do thousands of Zion's best friends, that these 
boasted improvements in theology have greatly im- 
paired the prosperity of spiritual religion in the 
churches planted and watered by the Puritans, they 
can not but deprecate the same influence where the 
truth has just taken root. 

In the higher stages of their education, when their 



MUNSON AND LYMAN. 195 

characters underwent an important change, Messrs. 
Munson and Lyman daily met for fraternal inter- 
course and common supplication. Like the two 
duintillian brothers, " they never admitted the idea 
of a separate interest: 51 **"' Their studies and their oc- 
cupations, their pursuits and their pleasures, were still 
the same." They were " lovely and'pleasant in their 
lives, and in their death they were undivided." 

The friends of missions in Northampton have 
erected, near the tomb of David Brainard, a neat 
cenotaph to the memory of Mr. Lyman, with the 
inscription, " We are more than conquerors." These 
words of scripture in the " daily food" are allotted 
to the very day on which he fell ; and according to 
an agreement between him and his wife, she has 
no reason to doubt that he read them at that time. 

" And he said unto me it is done." — " He that 
overcometh shall inherit all things." — Cl And he said 
unto me these are they which came not of great tri- 
bulation, and have washed their robes and made 
them white in the blood of the Lamb." — " These are 
they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he 
goeth." 

Of all who have gone from this country to preach 
the gospel among the heathen, Munson and Lyman 
only have been removed by violence. At the time 
of this appalling occurrence, candidates for mission- 
ary service, the patrons of the cause and those who 
managed its concerns were confessedly in great dan- 



196 MEMOIRS OF 

ger of yielding to human instruments a portion of 
that confidence which is due exclusively to Him 
who " worketh all in all." Cheering success ha^ 
crowned our efforts to evangelize the nations, and 
multitudes supposed that the work would go smooth- 
ly on if a given amount of money could be raised, 
and the requisite number of men sent forth. Know- 
ing that mild expedients would not suffice to check 
a growing self-complacency among his people, a 
jealous God sent this sharp rebuke to admonish them 
of their entire dependence on Him. "Cease ye 
from man."-—" The race is not to the swift, nor the 
battle to the strong." — " The Lord alone shall be 
exalted in that day." 

Such events as that now under review, need not 
fill the heart of any believer with anxious forebo- 
dings. The promises are yea and amen, in Christ 
Jesus. " Glorious things are spoken of Zion. God 
is in the midst of her. He will help her and that 
right early." 

If far greater sacrifices and disappointments await 
the church, still let her show that she " abates not a 
jot of heart or hope, but presses right onward " in the 
footsteps of her gracious and immutable Saviour. 



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